The NLEX Caloocan Interchange on C3 road is expected to be completed in time for the target opening of NLEX Harbor Link project’s Malabon exit and R10 section in the first quarter this year.
In a statement, NLEX Corp said the interchange will serve as strategic converging point of NLEX Harbor Link Segment 10, its C3-R10 section, and the NLEX Connector.
A massive steel girder launching was undertaken recently.
“The installation of these girders is crucial in our construction process as we target to open the Malabon exit by February 2020 and the entire C3-R10 Section by March 2020,” said Luigi Bautista, NLEX Corp. president and general manager.
This interchange will serve motorists traversing the said expressway network from NLEX to Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Manila and vice versa.
The tollway company has completed most of the bored pile foundations for the C3-R10 section while column, crosshead erection works, beam launching and deck concreting are in progress.
“Our team is working double-time to make the C3-R10 Section accessible and provide travel convenience to our motorists,” Bautista said.
Opened in February 2019, NLEX Harbor Link Segment 10 is the 5.65-kilometer, 6-lane elevated expressway that originates in Karuhatan, Valenzuela City over Governor Pascual avenue in Malabon City and Caloocan Interchange. It is extending 2.6 kms from Caloocan to R10, Navotas City.
NLEX Connector, on the other hand, is also under construction. The 8-kilometer expressway is being built along the Philippine National Railways tracks from the end of Segment 10 on C3/5th Avenue to PUP Sta. Mesa, Manila.
Mark Villar, DPWH secretary said the new interchange is essential to the completion of the NLEX Harbor Link segment 10, C3-R10 Section—a highly anticipated expressway project that will benefit around 30,000 vehicles daily.
The C3-R10 Section will cater to port traffic thus significantly speed up the transport of goods from Central and North Luzon to Port of Manila.
“The NLEX Harbor Link will significantly impact trade and commerce, while also providing solutions to Metro Manila traffic woes as cargo trucks will have 24/7 access from the port to NLEX,” Villar said.
Being the country’s shipping gateway for local and international trade, the Port of Manila has been vital to the country’s transport and logistics network.
Various stakeholders who stand to benefit from the soon-to-open C3-R10 section, are optimistic that these will ease up traffic for the transport industry and the people.
“When the off-ramp directly to the port becomes operational, we can do more trips because there will be less travel time, there is no truck ban on NLEX plus we can save on diesel consumption,” said Mario Yap, president of the Confederation of Truckers Association of the Philippines.
