Groundwork for NLEX-SLEX connector road starts in Q4

MANILA, Philippines — Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) unit NLEX Corp. plans to start mobilizing for the construction of the North Luzon Expressway - South Luzon Expressway (NLEX-SLEX) connector road project by the fourth quarter this year and begin actual works by the first quarter of next year.

NLEX Corp. president and chief executive officer Rodrigo Franco said the firm intends to “mobilize by fourth quarter [this year] then, full blast first quarter.”

He said the Department of Public Works and Highways is working on the acquisition and delivery of right-of-way for the construction of the project.

“It’s moving. Their deadline is second quarter next year for the first section. So, we’re working within the timetable,” he said.

The NLEX-SLEX connector road project with a cost of P23.3 billion, is an eight-kilometer, all elevated four-lane toll expressway which would extend the NLEX southward from the end of Segment 10 in C3 Road Caloocan City to PUP Sta. Mesa, Manila and connect to the Skyway Stage 3, mostly traversing the Philippine National Railways’ track.

It will include two interchanges located at C3 Road in Caloocan and España in Manila.

Among the aim of the project is to help decongest Metro Manila traffic, as well as help stimulate development in Manila, Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas and surrounding areas.

The project also seeks to provide trucks with an alternative route.

Once completed, the project is expected to benefit at least 35,000 motorists per day.

It is expected to cut travel time from SLEX to NLEX to 20 minutes from two hours, as well as from Clark to Calamba to one hour and 40 minutes from approximately three hours.

Apart from the NLEX-SLEX connector road project, MPIC is building other tollways such as the Cavite-Laguna Expressway, NLEX-Harbor Link Segment 10, C-5 South Link and Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway.

MPIC currently operates the following tollways: NLEX, Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway and the Manila Cavite Toll Expressway.

In addition to tollways, MPIC is into other businesses such as water, power, hospitals, railways and logistics.