NLEX Corp. on Monday opened a new elevated expressway between Caloocan City and Navotas City to motorists that will drastically cut travel time from Port Area to North Luzon Expressway.
“By bringing NLEX closer to the country’s central shipping gateway, we expect to speed up transport of goods as well as increased economic activities in Metro Manila and North and Central Luzon regions,” NLEX president and general manager Luigi Bautista said.
The new 2.6-kilometer NLEX Harbor Link section features the new Caloocan interchange (with on and off ramps along Grace Park), the new Malabon Exit (with off ramp on Dagat-Dagatan Avenue) and the new Navotas Interchange (with on and off ramps on North Bay Boulevard South).
It lengthens the existing Harbor Link—the 2.42-km Segment 9 from NLEX Interchange to Barangay Karuhatan, Valenzuela City and the 5.65-km Segment 10 from Karuhatan to the new Caloocan Interchange in Grace Park C3/5th Ave.
Public Works Secretary Mark Villar said the expanded NLEX Harbor Link would boost the government’s traffic decongestion efforts in Metro Manila and other major thoroughfares.
“This will be an alternative route between Quezon City and Manila. From the Mindanao Toll Plaza, motorists may now reach the Port Area in Manila in about 15 to 20 minutes,” he said.
The high-impact project is a part of the EDSA decongestion program which is one of the key elements of the Duterte administration’s “Build, Build, Build” program.
It is envisioned to improve the road sector’s network and eventually upgrade Luzon’s supply chain. Around 30,000 motorists are expected to benefit from the project per day.
The new section will introduce an alternative route for motorists, especially truckers, currently affected by traffic choke points along Quezon Ave., EDSA and A. Bonifacio in Manila. Cargo trucks will enjoy 24/7 access as there is no truck ban along NLEX. Faster travel means quicker turnaround times for commercial vehicles and unhampered delivery of essential goods to Metro Manila.
“We worked overtime to deliver this piece of infrastructure that our metropolis needs not only to improve driving experience but also to hasten economic recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. president and chief executive Rodrigo Franco.
“The impact of the ECQ has been challenging, but our commitment never wavered and our focus remained clear, and that is by resuming our infrastructure projects, we generate jobs and help quickly restart business activities,” he said.
Motorists using the entire Harbor Link are also assured of the same safety features and high-quality pavement that they have been used to along the NLEX.
The DPWH and NLEX are also targeting the completion of the new exit ramp towards the Navotas Fish Port Complex this year.