NLEX Corp. said it expects to start construction of the P23-billion expressway linking North Luzon Expressway and South Luzon Expressway by the first quarter of 2019.
“We want to be able to mobilize construction by fourth quarter and full blast by first quarter of next year,” NLEX president and chief executive Rodrigo Franco said.
The Department of Public Works and Highways expects to deliver the right-of-way by May next year for the NLEx-SLEx Connector Road Project.
NLEX secured the notice of award from Public Works on Sept. 19, 2016, but the construction of the NLEx-SLEx Connector Road was affected by the delay in the delivery of right-of-way.
The project is an unsolicited proposal approved by the National Economic and Development Authority under the build-operate-transfer scheme for the design, financing, construction, operation, and maintenance of an 8-kilometer elevated toll expressway over the right-of-way of Philippine National Railways.
The project starts at the junction of NLEx Segment 10 at C-3 Road/5th Ave. in Caloocan City and will connect to South Luzon Expressway though Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3 Project in Manila.
Upon completion in 2021, the elevated expressway will provide motorists another alternative to the heavily congested Edsa.
The project is also expected to reduce travel time between NLEx and SLEx from two hours to only 20 minutes.
NLEX budgeted P19 billion this year for the construction of the NLEx-SLEx Project and the Harbor Link Segment 10, including the R10 Section in Dagat-Dagatan, Navotas City.
Expected to be opened this year, Harbor Link Segment 10 is a 5.7-km elevated expressway traversing NLEx from Smart Connect Interchange and cross over Mac Arthur Highway in Valenzuela City with down ramps along C3/5th Ave. Interchange in Caloocan City.
Once Harbor Link is fully completed, travel between the Port of Manila and NLEx will take just 10 minutes and provide direct expressway access to commercial vehicles, especially heavy trucks.
Around 40,000 vehicles traversing the Port of Manila and NLEx daily are expected to benefit from Harbor Link.
