MPTC expects to finish CALAX by late next year

MANILA,Philippines — Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) expects to finish the entire Laguna segment of the Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX) by late next year following the partial opening of its first segments yesterday.

MPTC president and chief executive officer Rodrigo Franco said the remaining nine-kilometer stretch of the Laguna segment costing another P3 billion is targeted for completion late next year.

“What is important to me is to reach up to Silang, because Silang is near Tagaytay already. So that will be late next year,” Franco said.

CALAX is designed as a four-lane, 45.3-kilometer tolled expressway that will connect Manila-Cavite Expressway (CAVITEX) in Kawit to South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) at the Mamplasan Interchange in Biñan, Laguna.

The project will have interchanges in eight locations, namely: Kawit, Daang Hari, Governor’s Drive, Aguinaldo Highway, Silang, Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay, Laguna Blvd., Technopark, and a toll barrier before SLEX.

The project is divided into two major portions, namely the Cavite segment spanning 27.2 kms and the Laguna segment covering 18.1 kms.

MPTC opened yesterday the first sections of the CALAX from the Mamplasan barrier to the Santa Rosa-Tagaytay interchange, in time for the expected influx of motorists for the observance of the four-day All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day weekend.

A single lane was opened to motorists until 10 PM yesterday. It will be open from 6 AM to 10 PM for today and tomorrow. 

“For the daily access time starting November 3, we agreed with DPWH that it will be Sunday to Thursday 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. and giving extended time on weekends, Friday to Saturday 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.,” said Bobby Bontia, president and general manager of MPTC subsidiary MPCALA Holdings Inc. 

“This will only be temporary, until the remaining works for these first subsections are completed. The public is reminded to drive safely and observe relevant traffic rules while travelling along the partially opened lane. Upon issuance of the relevant certifications and permits from DPWH and TRB, full access to the completed lanes and other interchanges and 24-hour commercial operations shall be possible,” Bontia said.

MPTC will be installing the toll systems on the partially opened sections next month.

“And then after that, we’ll have few days of trial where we will have live traffic to test our toll systems and then after that we apply already for the toll rates and immediately after TRB approves it and we comply with all the requirements including publication then we will charge the approved toll,” Franco said.

Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar said approximately 10,000 cars are expected to enter and exit through the two access points, Mamplasan barrier for the westbound vehicles and Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay Entry for the eastbound vehicles.

“This section will take 10 minutes to drive. A big cut on travel time compared to the 45-minutes it currently takes to travel Mamplasan to Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay road,” Villar said.

“I’m sure many of our kababayans will take advantage of the time to do some family bonding and go on a road trip. I only see benefits in opening CALAX even on a single lane basis to decongest Laguna Boulevard, Aguinaldo Highway. We are at 90 percent completion, the remaining 10 percent of the works are being fast tracked, while in operations we hope to fully open before December steps in,” he said.