The North Luzon Expressway is pouring over P8 billion to expand its network to improve traffic flow and connectivity.
NLEX Corp. president and general manager J. Luigi Bautista said the company allotted P2.1 billion to build NLEX C5 Link Segment 8.2 Section 1A , a 2-kilometer stretch from Mindanao Ave. to Quirino Highway in Novaliches, Quezon City.
“The project was already approved by the Toll Regulatory Board [TRB], and the only remaining outstanding there is to complete the right of way. Today, it’s about 78 percent in terms of ROW [right of way] acquisition,” Bautista said.
“Once we get substantial acquisition, we will start building. If we start building in the third quarter, we should be able to finish in less than one year,” he said.
NLEX also submitted a proposal to the TRB for the NLEX Phase 3 Widening Project, which involves the construction of new expressway lanes from NLEX San Fernando to Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) Spurt in Pampanga.
“Hopefully, we can get the TRB approval soon and start the project in the third quarter of this year,” Bautista said.
NLEX, in collaboration with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), is building the Santo Tomas Interchange. The project is a part of the Greater Pampanga Circumferential Road masterplan and will connect to DPWH’s Lubao-Guagua-Minalin-Santo Tomas (LGMST) bypass project.
Sto. Tomas Interchange will also help decongest the Olongapo-Gapan Road by bringing NLEX closer to the towns in the west.
Bautista said NLEX would invest P6.5 billion for the two expressway projects.
NLEX spans about 105 kilometers or 598 lane-kms. and services an average of 323,791 vehicles per day.
SCTEX is a 91-km or 362 lane-kms. stretching from Subic-Tipo to La Paz, Tarlac, connecting the special economic zones in Subic and Clark to Tarlac City.