Silang Interchange opening ‘feasible’ by Q1, says DPWH

The Department of Public Works and Highways said the opening of the CALAX Silang (Aguinaldo) Interchange in Cavite province is “feasible” by the first quarter of 2023.

“Slightly we’re affected by ROW [right of way] issues at trial courts, especially at Silang. But there’s a meeting at site with LGU [local government unit] that will assist us to settle such,” DPWH Public-Private Partnership Service director Alex Bote said.

The Silang (Aguinaldo) Interchange is the fifth of the eight segments of the 45-kilometer Cavite-Laguna Expressway. The 2×2 interchange spans 3.9 km from Silang East Interchange to Aguinaldo Highway. About 64 percent of Calax Silang (Aguinaldo) Interchange subsection of the CALAX project was completed so far.

MPCALA Holdings Inc. earlier said that the target date for the opening of the subsection had been moved several times, with the latest being December 2022.

It said a critical portion for the completion of the interchange is the undelivered ROW of about 450 meters of land owned by a private corporation.

Silang Mayor Kevin Anarna earlier said he was willing to help MHI to resolve the ROW issues to speed up the completion of CALAX.

Bote expressed optimism the CALAX would be completed by the first quarter despite the unresolved ROW issue. “Still, the target of completion up to Aguinaldo is feasible by first quarter next year,” he said.

Upon completion, the CALAX Silang (Aguinaldo) Interchange will serve more motorists given the reduced traffic situation. Average daily traffic is now at 33,000 vehicles from Mamplasan to Silang Ease interchange.

This is expected to increase to 40,000 once the Silang (Aguinaldo) Interchange is opened.

CALAX’s operational segment spans 14.24-km. with interchanges at Greenfield-Mamplasan, Laguna Technopark, Laguna Boulevard, Santa Rosa-Tagaytay and Silang East. Other interchanges of CALAX—Open Canal, Governor’s Drive and Kawit—are targeted to be completed by 2023.