NEWS

By Cathrine Gonzales

MANILA, Philippines — The Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC) is targeting to complete a P28-billion package of road infrastructure projects by 2022.

Raul Ignacio, MPTC chief tollway development officer, said the acquisition of right of way for some of the projects has already begun. He added that some of the projects are also ready for construction while others are awaiting government approval.

He also said that these “stimulus projects” will create employment, improve mobility of essential goods and services, stimulate inter-regional development, and reduce traffic congestion.

The four projects, which belong to alignments of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and Cavite Expressway (Cavitex) are the following:

• NLEX-Cavitex Port Link Expressway Section 1 – A 5.1-kilometer stretch to Anda Circle from the C3-R10 Navotas Interchange of the NLEX Harbor Link. This P10-billion project will extend the NLEX direct to the Manila Ports via an elevated expressway over the Mel Lopez Boulevard from Navotas through Tayuman, Moriones, and then to Anda Circle, around the area of the Manila South Harbor. Ignacio said the Port Link aims to decongest local roads by diverting cargo trucks to the elevated expressway. The new truck route will be available 24/7, without a truck ban, providing savings in time and vehicle operating costs for the truckers.
• NLEX-Cavitex Port Link Expressway Section 3 – This P12-billion project will link Cavitex to Gil J. Puyat Avenue via another elevated expressway. Coming from the south, this Cavitex extension will be a 4.8-kilometer elevated expressway above Diosdado Macapagal Avenue.
• C5 North Link Section 1 of NLEX – This 2-kilometer stretch will extend the NLEX Harbor Link towards Quezon City, and connect eventually to the C5 Expressway. It has a budget of P2 billion.
• Section 3B of C5 South Link Segments 2 & 3 – This will extend Cavitex farther from the south to the C5 Expressway in the east through the cities of Parañaque, Pasay and Taguig. The C5 South Link Segments 2 and 3, a 7.7-kilometer road, will complete the expressway that will link Cavitex’s Parañaque toll plaza to C5 in Taguig. It will reduce travel time from Cavitex to Makati from one and a half hours to 30 minutes, with the decongestion of EDSA, MIA Road, and other adjacent major roads.

According to Ignacio, these four projects will divert high-value long haul trips and cargo trucks from local roads to these truck ban-free expressways, thereby decongesting traffic.

“With these projects, the major seaports and airports to north and south destinations are connected, without the constraints of a truck ban. These projects will enable hauler trucks to achieve 24/7 unimpeded delivery of goods,” he said.

“These projects will definitely support government economic stimulus programs, including creating jobs during and after construction,” he added.

Source: Inquirer.Net