Contractor wins deal to add third bridge to Philippines’ Candaba Viaduct

Contractor Leighton Asia has won an Philippine peso $161 million (US$115 million) deal to build the third bridge of the Candaba Viaduct in the north of Manila, Philippines.

Leighton Asia will build a third bridge on the Candaba Viaduct (Image courtesy of Hochtief)

The third bridge will run for 5.3km between the two existing lanes of the Candaba Viaduct.

The Viaduct carries the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) across the Candaba swamp in the provinces of Bulcacan and Pampagna.

It was the longest bridge in the Philippines until the completion of the 8.9km-long Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX) last year.

The new extension aims to reduce congestion on the Candaba Viaduct, which currently consists of a total of six lanes and was built in the 1970s.

Leighton Asia, based in Hong Kong, is a division of the CIMIC Group, which itself is majority owned by Hochtief.

CIMIC Group executive chairman Juan Santamaria said, “The Candaba Viaduct is a strategic link in one of the major road networks in the Philippines. Construction of the third bridge will expand the capacity of the existing network and improve safety for motorists.”