The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said Tuesday the construction of España to Sta. Mesa section of the NLEX-SLEX Connector is now 66-percent complete.
“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,” Public Works Undersecretary for Planning and Public-Private Partnership Service Maria Catalina Cabral said.
She said 1.84 kilometers of the four-lane road were finished, including the on and off ramp at España Boulevard, while civil works for the entry and exit ramps at Magsaysay Boulevard were being fast-tracked for opening in the fourth quarter of 2023.
When completed, NLEX-SLEX Connector Road Section 2 will link the España Boulevard interchange to the end of Manila Skyway Stage 3 at PUP Sta. Mesa, Manila.
The entire NLEX-SLEX Connector Road, which spans 7.70 km. from the end of NLEX Segment 10 at Circumferential Road 3 (C-3) in Caloocan to the end of Manila Skyway Stage 3 in Sta. Mesa, Manila, is a joint project between the DPWH and NLEX Corp. under the Public-Private Partnership (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,” Cabral said.
NLEX earlier said it expected to complete section 2 of NLEX-SLEX by the fourth quarter. Section 1 from Caloocan to España was opened to the public in March this year.
The project aims to provide easier access to the University Belt and ease traffic congestion in the cities of Malabon, Navotas, Caloocan and Valenzuela.
The new expressway reduced travel time between C3 Road, Caloocan City and España, Manila from 30 to just five minutes.
