The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), the Bulacan provincial government, and NLEX Corporation have given their joint approval for the conversion of the Marilao Interchange, located along the Marilao–San Jose del Monte Provincial Road, into a national road.
This section intersects with the Marilao portion of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), and the planned conversion marks a significant shift in jurisdiction and infrastructure development.
Bulacan Vice Governor Alexis Castro announced that the Sangguniang Panlalawigan is committed to facilitating the transfer of responsibility from the Provincial Engineering Office to the DPWH, starting with a formal resolution that will serve as a supporting document for a bill to be filed in the upcoming 20th Congress.
DPWH Assistant Regional Director Melquiades Sto. Domingo welcomed the initiative, noting that the move will allow for the full upgrading of the Marilao Interchange, including raising its current vertical clearance of 4.27 meters, which has been a concern for road safety.
NLEX Corporation Assistant Vice President for Traffic Operations Robin Ignacio explained that the interchange was originally constructed in the 1960s as part of the Marilao–San Jose del Monte Provincial Road under provincial jurisdiction. It later became part of the NLEX system following the highway’s modernization in 2002, when entry and exit ramps in Marilao were officially added.
Despite repeated warnings and highly visible gantries installed by NLEX Corporation, two accidents this year involved vehicles hitting the interchange bridge due to insufficient clearance. During the repair period, toll fees were waived by order of the Department of Transportation through the Toll Regulatory Board.
Repair efforts were handled by the NLEX concessionaire, and traffic has since returned to normal in both directions along the four-lane stretch of NLEX in Marilao.
The planned conversion is expected to improve safety, facilitate further infrastructure upgrades, and enhance connectivity between local and national road networks.
