NEWS

By Elijah Felice Rosales | The Philippine Star | May 4, 2024 12:00PM

Motorists traveling from the northern provinces to Metro Manila experience light to moderate traffic at the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), as seen from the Bocaue Toll Plaza in Bulacan on January 2, 2024. STAR / Jesse Bustos

MANILA, Philippines — North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) Corp. will spend nearly P9 billion for the construction of a direct access to C-5 Road and the expansion of a certain portion of its tollway.

NLEX president and general manager J. Luigi Bautista told reporters the company is investing P8.6 billion for the initial segment of the NLEX C-5 Link and a road widening project.

Bautista said they will spend P2.1 billion to put up the first phase of the NLEX C-5 Link, spanning at least two kilometers and linking Mindanao Avenue with Quirino Avenue.

NLEX has secured approval from the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) to build the project. It has also acquired right of way, putting it on track to start construction by the third quarter.

The initial segment of the NLEX C-5 Link will be elevated all throughout: half as a viaduct, half as a ramp. NLEX hopes to complete the project in 2025 to offer motorists an alternative in crossing Mindanao Avenue, one of the busiest roads in Quezon City.

Bautista said NLEX will also invest P6.5 billion to undertake a road widening project running between San Fernando, Pampanga and the Subic-Clark Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX).

Pending TRB approval, the project seeks to add one lane in each direction to mitigate the traffic congestion in the San Fernado section of NLEX.

Further, the project will include the construction of a full interchange in Mexico, Pampanga, and the installation of street lights along the strip in response to motorist complaints.

Meanwhile, Bautista said a full interchange in Mexico would give travelers another path toward the western provinces in Central Luzon, such as Bataan and Zambales. Once the project is built, motorists no longer need to go through the Olongapo-Gapan Road to reach Zambales.

NLEX will also help the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in building an interchange in Sto. Tomas, Pampanga. The DPWH will handle the civil works, while NLEX will take care of traffic management.

Before the end of the year, NLEX will complete the third bridge of the Candaba Viaduct, opening another road for motorists traversing the Bulacan and Pampanga portions of the tollway.

Source: The Philippine Star

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