ROW delivery to allow start of NLEX-SLEX connector construction

MANILA, Philippines — Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) unit NLEX Corp. expects to start with the actual construction of the North Luzon Expressway-South Luzon Expressway (NLEX-SLEX) connector road project next month upon delivery of substantial right-of-way by the government.

“Hopefully next month, that is the promise to us by the DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways),” NLEX president and general manager Luigi Bautista said.

“We need a sufficient length of the road to be turned over to us so that we can start construction,” he said.

Bautista said the ideal level to commence construction is at 70 percent. Right-of-way delivery for the project so far stands at about 50 percent.

The P23.3 billion NLEX-SLEX connector road project is an eight-kilometer all-elevated highway along the PNR extending the NLEX southward from the end of Segment 10 in C3/5th Avenue, Caloocan City to PUP Sta. Mesa, Manila.

It is expected to decongest major thoroughfares and improve linkages between the north and south once completed.

The groundbreaking for the project was held last February, which was two months ahead of its original May 2019 schedule.

Bautista said NLEX has so far undertaken preliminary works such as ground survey, finalization of design, clearing of tree cutting, and clearing for informal settlers in preparation for the projects’s actual construction.

NLEX is implementing P7.7 billion worth of projects to help alleviate traffic congestion in Metro Manila and key areas of the NLEX-SCTEX network.

The projects under construction include new interchanges, bridges, and expressway lanes.

NLEX is part of the portfolio of projects of MPTC, the tollways arm of infrastructure conglomerate Metro Pacific Investment Corp.

MPTC holds in its portfolio of projects the SCTEX, CAVITEX, and current construction projects Cavite-Laguna-Expressway, C5-South Link, Connector Road, and the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway in Cebu.