MARILAO, Bulacan - The North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) Corporation said on Saturday that they are expecting to finish the repairs on the Marilao Interchange in Bulacan, next week, March 31. 

The bridge was damaged after a truck rammed into the structure Wednesday morning. 

Initial reports from authorities revealed that the truck was 4.9 meters high while the vertical clearance of the bridge is only 4.25 meters.

This resulted to a standstill traffic in the area last Wednesday, with only two lanes available for motorists in the northbound lane. 

NLEX Traffic Management Head Robin Ignacio said that the shoring or the installation of the vertical steel support on sections beneath the Interchange was finished 11:00 p.m. yesterday, March 21. 

Because of this, motorists can now use three lanes on the affected area to ease traffic congestion. 

A zipper lane was also opened to motorists in the southbound lane of the expressway. 

"Though I don't have the percentage, what they have done na is naglagay na ng support yung shoring, para habang ginagawa yung tulay ay safer siya kasi cinut na po nila yung bumaluktot o nasirang horizontal beam nung tulay. That one was completed last night. We are awaiting sa fabrication nung beam na yun yung ire-replace, once available  inaano na po nila yung, they are going to weld it," Ignacio said. 

"Tuloy tuloy po, 24/7 po yung repairs so we can reach yung target na march 31," he added. 

Motorists are still advised to take alternate routes. 

For motorists heading to Bulacan and Pampanga:

-- Take NLEX Karuhatan Exit via NLEX Harbor Link Interchange / NLEX Paso de Blas Northbound (NB) Exit going to MacArthur Highway. Re-enter at NLEX Ciudad de Victoria NB or NLEX Bocaue Interchange. 

For motorists coming from Bulacan and Pampanga and heading to Manila:

-- Take NLEX Bocaue Southbound (SB) Interchange Exit, turn right to MacArthur Highway; Re-enter at NLEX Meycauayan SB.

Meanwhile, Vice Governor Alex Castro said that they will schedule a hearing on Tuesday together with other stakeholders, representatives of NLEX and Marilao Municipal government, to discuss the possible measures to reinforce the 60-year-old bridge, and to prevent the same incident from happening again. 

"Sa tagal nang problema nitong tulay na ito kasi lagi nalang siyang nababangga ng mga malalaking truck, hindi lang ito yung first time na nangyari, nangyari na ito noong mga nakaraang buwan. Mag-set ng hearing sa committee of the whole para sa Martes patungkol po dito at iimbitahan natin ang lahat ng ahensya na nakakasakop dito para makapagtulungan ano pa ba ang puwedeng gawin para hindi na maulit ito. NLEX Corporation, Provincial engineering office, Municipal engineering Office of marilao, and DPWH," Castro said.