NLEX Corp., a unit of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC), is keen to build the 1.2-kilometer elevated expressway that will connect its 8-km North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) connector project to the Skyway Stage 3.
In a press briefing, Christopher Lizo, MPTC chief finance officer, said the company wrote a letter to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to express its willingness to build the 1.2-km road which is crucial to connect NLEX and South Luzon Expressway (SLEX).
“Actually, we wrote the DPWH last week, or two weeks ago, (we said) we are willing to do the 1.2 kilometers,” Lizo said. DPWH has yet to respond.
Lizo said the company also intends to spend at least P2billion to build the project, which targets to cater to 3,000 to 5,000 class 3 vehicles daily.
The 1.2 km is part of San Miguel Corp.’s Skyway Stage 3 project concession but so far, there is no substantial development on the construction of the project.
The P23.3-billion NLEX connector project is an all elevated 4-lane toll expressway extending the NLEX southward from the end of Segment 10 in C3 Road, Caloocan City to PUP in Sta. Mesa, Manila and connecting to the Skyway Stage 3.
The project is divided into two sections — España and Sta Mesa.
NLEX Corp. said the 5-km España section runs from Caloocan Interchange on C3 Road, España Blvd.,whilethe second, the 3-km Sta Mesa section, runs from España Blvd. to R. Magsaysay Blvd., all the way to Sta. Mesa, Manila.
Currently, NLEX Corp. said the first section is 92 percent complete and is targeted to be operational this December, once it secures the remaining 3 percent right-of-way (ROW) soon.
The second portion is 23 percent complete.The company said the government has delivered 86 percent of the ROW requirement.The project is set for substantial completion by February 2023 while the entire project is targeted to be operational by April.
The project aims to decongest major thoroughfares in Manila City such as España Blvd., Abad Santos Avenue, Rizal Avenue and Lacson Avenue and to divert trucks from the heavily congested roads of Manila.
The project will also improve connection between the north and south, connect major Manila ports to north and south destinations, connect Ninoy Aquino International Airport and Clark InternationalAirport, and reduce NLEX to SLEX travel time from two hours to 20 minutes.
The connector road intends to serve around 35,000 motorists per day, cutting travel time from NLEX to South Luzon by at least 60 percent and stimulating development between Metro Manila and its surrounding provinces.