Part of connector road to open this year

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The first five-kilometer section of the P15.7-billion North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) Connector between Caloocan Interchange on C3 Road and the future España Interchange in Manila is expected to be completed this year.

In a statement, NLEX Corp. said the connector road is now 80 percent complete and is poised to make a positive impact on the traffic conditions in the metro.

“We are pleased to note that this vital infrastructure project aimed at easing travel achieves another milestone as it reaches 80 percent completion. This inspires optimism for the logistics sector since in a few months’ time, truckers will have a 24/7 alternative route which will enable unimpeded delivery of goods,” said J. Luigi Bautista, NLEX Corp. president and general manager.

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This segment has on and off ramps and toll plazas along C3 road and España boulevard, crosses over the Blumentritt Station of the Light Rail Transit line 1 and Dimasalang Bridge, and uses steel box girders for its curved and highly elevated areas.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has turned over 91 percent of the right-of-way for the España section and 83 percent for the Sta. Mesa section.

Targeting to serve around 35,000 motorists per day, the four-lane, all-vehicle class elevated expressway, in its entirety, spans 8 km and terminates at the vicinity of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines in Sta. Mesa, Manila.

The NLEX Connector runs mostly above the alignment of the Philippine National Railways and features innovative, pre-stressed box girders called Super Ts that are widely used for bridges in Australia and New Zealand.

It is seen to significantly reduce travel time from NLEX to South Luzon by at least 60 percent and is expected to enhance the journey between international gateways, such as Ninoy Aquino International Airport and Clark International Airport, and will stimulate development between Metro Manila and its surrounding provinces.

A public-private partnership project between DPWH and Metro Pacific-led NLEX Corp., this new road is also part of the Luzon Spine Expressway Network. – Myla Iglesias

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