Construction of P15.9-B NAIA expressway shifts into high gear

MANILA, Philippines - The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) yesterday said the ongoing P15.9-billion Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Expressway is expected to be completed as scheduled as the winning proponent continued to step up construction activities.

DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson reported yesterday that cumulative work accomplishment of the public private partnership (PPP) project is at 10.6 percent since construction started last January.

Construction implementation for the project is divided into two phases. Phase II-A is between Entertainment City and NAIA Terminals 1 & 2 while phase II-B is from Domestic Road to NAIA-3 at Sales Street.

The 7.15-kilometer elevated toll road being undertaken by SMC’s Optimal Infrastructure Development Inc. is expected to be completed as scheduled in October next year to provide better access to the NAIA and Philippine Amusement Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) Entertainment City.

The expressway is expected to connect to the Skyway network of Metro Manila with the existing Manila South Luzon Expressway at Sales Interchange and would benefit close to 80,000 travelers per day.

Singson advised motorists to consider EDSA and Roxas Boulevard in going to and from the country’s main international gateway due to the impact on traffic of the ongoing NAIA expressway within the boundaries of the cities of Pasay and Parañaque.

“We anticipate that vehicular movement along the vicinity of Andrews Avenue, Domestic Road, MIA Road and Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard will be affected by the on-going works,” Singson said.

According to Singson, SMC vowed to do their best to manage traffic along the road network covered by the PPP project.

“We hope the motorists and commuters will also plan their trips, be aware of the traffic conditions leading to airport, and take other route options,” he added.

SMC earlier revised the alignment of the proposed expressway by diverting the toll road along Estero Tripa de Gallina so as not to congest the already bad traffic around the NAIA Road, Domestic Road and Airport Road.

The P11-billion bid of the SMC unit edged the P305 million submitted by Manila North Tollways Luzon Corp. (MNTC) of publicly-held infrastructure conglomerate Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) in April last year.

The project valued at P15.86 billion would provide access to NAIA Terminals 1, 2 and 3 linking the Skyway in the South Luzon expressway (SLEX) and the Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway (Cavitex).

It would also support the development of the PAGCOR Entertainment City located along the Manila Bay reclamation area. It will well connect all three terminals of the NAIA Complex and ease the flow of traffic to and from the airport.