Around P2.6 billion worth of infrastructure developments geared towards the safety and convenience of motorists have been implemented at the SCTEX since the NLEX Corporation took over the management, operation, and maintenance of the said expressway.
The Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) awarded the SCTEX concession contract to NLEX Corporation in 2015. Since then, the tollway company has invested in various enhancement projects to improve SCTEX’s pavement, systems, bridges, slopes, signs, lights, and other assets.
For this year, the tollway company focuses on the ongoing repair and strengthening of Pasig Potrero Bridge and the road raising project at Dinalupihan, which cost P152 million and P148.5 million, respectively.
One of the most notable improvements undertaken by NLEX Corporation was the P393-million NLEX-SCTEX integration project in 2016 which unified the toll collection of the expressways into a single, seamless system. The project reduced the cumbersome toll collection stops and made expressway travel hassle-free.
A three-phase rehabilitation program amounting to P953.9 million was completed in the entire 94-kilometer road involving asphalt overlay and patching works to make travels safer and more comfortable.
Modernization has become a priority as a new traffic control center was put up along with closed-circuit television systems, emergency call boxes, and variable message signs to better assist motorists and enhance monitoring of traffic along the expressway. Features such as LED lights, reflective delineator posts, and anti-glare panels were also installed in various parts of SCTEX to help motorists navigate the road safely during nighttime.
To boost mobility and facilitate faster travel, toll lanes were added in Clark South and Tipo and new entry and exit toll plazas were built in Mabiga at a total cost of P399.2 million including preliminary works for other expansion projects.
Around P103 million was also spent for equipping the toll lanes with RFID, early detection feature as well as automaticlicense plate recognition (ALPR) system which is useful for identifying vehicles passing the RFID lanes without RFID stickers, those with insufficient balance, and vehicles that may pose safety hazards.
BCDA and NLEX Corp. also worked together to construct the P88.3 million New Clark City Interchange in time for the country’s hosting of the Southeast Asian Games in 2019.
Moving forward, NLEX Corporation President and General Manager J. Luigi L. Bautista said that more projects have been lined up for SCTEX in the coming years involving interchange and system enhancements.