Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) unit NLEX Corp. has secured approval to start collecting toll at the first segment of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX)-South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) Connector road staring on August 8.
The Toll Regulatory Board has given the green light for the collection of fees for the use of the five-kilometer expressway from Circumferential Road 3, Caloocan City to España boulevard, Manila that was opened last March.
On August 8, motorists passing through the NLEX-SLEX Connector will start paying P86 for class 1 vehicles (cars and sport utility vehicles), P215 for class 2 (minivans and buses) and P302 for class 3 (large trucks and trailers).
The NLEX-SLEX Connector’s Section 1, from Caloocan to España, has provided toll-free passage to over 14,000 motorists daily since it was opened to the public in March.
NLEX Corp., which also operates NLEX and Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway, aims to complete the construction of Section 2 from España to Sta. Mesa by the fourth quarter .
This will provide easier access to the University Belt and ease traffic congestion in the cities of Malabon, Navotas, Caloocan and Valenzuela.
Meanwhile, MPTC said as it redefines electronic toll collection in the country, the NLEX-SLEX Connector provides a renewed mobility experience to motorists while ensuring customers’ safety and convenience.
MPTC said it sees the future as barrier-free. By removing the traditional toll barriers, barrier-free technology provides seamless and enhanced traffic flow since motorists no longer need to stop at the toll booths.
For safety reasons, motorists are only advised to slow down as they approach the toll plaza, it added.
Construction of the NLEX-SLEX Connector has also improved its environs like the redevelopment of Magsaysay Boulevard, rehabilitation of the existing eastbound and westbound service roads, improvement of Philippine National Railways railroad crossing, relocation of electric posts, decommissioning of the Magsaysay Flyover, and traffic signalization of the Magsaysay Boulevard intersection, MPTC said.
The NLEX-SLEX Connector is a public-private partnership project approved by the National Economic and Development Authority’s Investment Coordination Committee in 2015.
