NLEX investing P2 billion for 2-km Quezon City extension

MANILA, Philippines — Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. unit NLEX Corp. is investing at least P2 billion to address traffic gridlocks in the congested portions of Mindanao Avenue in Quezon City.

NLEX said the construction of a two-kilometer expressway section between the existing Mindanao Avenue toll plaza and Quirino Highway in Novaliches would commence soon.

“The construction of this expressway section will be welcome news for NLEX commuters, who are facing daily traffic jams along Mindanao Avenue,” NLEX president Luigi Bautista said.

“Eventually, this section will be integrated into the future NLEX expansion to C-5 /C.P. Garcia near Katipunan Avenue. We foresee an interconnected tollway network that will be accessible to the west, east, north and south sides of Metro Manila,” Bautista added.

He said the project would also benefit the transport logistics sector comprised of cargo trucks, haulers and other commercial vehicles as it will provide an alternate route to the ports of Manila through NLEX Harbor Link all the way to the Navotas Interchange along Mel Lopez Boulevard to R-10.

“The construction of the new expressway section is part of the Build Build Build program and is expected to contribute to the government’s economic stimulus initiative, which aims to generate more jobs and help revive the economy amid the pandemic,” Bautista said.

The project is part of the 11.5-kilometer NLEX C-5 Link between Mindanao Avenue, Quirino Highway, Regalado Avenue, Congressional Avenue and C.P. Garcia Avenue in Quezon City.

The entire NLEX C-5 Link project is expected to benefit 45,000 motorists daily and reduce travel time between Mindanao Avenue and Commonwealth Avenue to 10 minutes instead of the usual 45 minutes.

The tollway company is also fast-tracking the completion of the first five-kilometer section of the NLEX Connector to España Boulevard in Sampaloc, Manila along the PNR railroad tracks.

The NLEX Connector is expected to reduce travel time from NLEX to South Luzon Expressway from two hours to only 20 minutes.