The remaining segment of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX)-South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) Connector road will be operational by yearend, according to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
Maria Catalina Cabral, DPWH undersecretary for Planning and Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Services, yesterday inspected the ongoing construction of the 2.55-kilometer NLEX-SLEX Connector Section 2 from España boulevard to the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) in Sta. Mesa, Manila.
The project is 67 percent complete. A total of 1.84 kilometers of four-lane road is finished, including the on and off ramp at España boulevard, while civil works for the entry and exit ramps at Magsaysay boulevard are being fast-tracked for the opening before the year ends.
“We want to ensure that right-of-way and construction activities are right on schedule in order to provide seamless travel for motorists, most especially trucks coming from the ports at North Harbor as well as to improve the connectivity and traffic flow between the Southern and Northern part of Luzon and its surrounding areas,” said Cabral.
When completed, NLEX-SLEX Connector Section 2 will link the España boulevard interchange to the end of Manila Skyway Stage 3 at PUP Sta. Mesa.
The entire NLEX-SLEX Connector road spans 7.7 km from the end of NLEX Segment 10 at Circumferential Road 3 in Caloocan to the end of Manila Skyway Stage 3 at PUP Sta. Mesa.
It is a joint project of the Philippine government through the DPWH and Manila North Tollways Corp. under the PPP program.
“With construction activities on track for the final section, around 35,000 mixed vehicular traffic including heavy vehicles traveling per day from SLEX to NLEX will soon enjoy reduced logistical costs brought by shorter travel time from the current two hours to just 20 minutes,” added Cabral.
The first segment from Caloocan to España was opened to the motoring public last March.
NLEX Corp., the operator of NLEX and Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway, has earmarked P23 billion for the construction of the entire project.
