NLEX Corp. on Wednesday anticipates opening a five-kilometer section of the NLEX Connector road at the Caloocan and España interchanges to traffic in less than a month.
Now 98 percent complete, the NLEX Connector España Section should finally open on March 27 and reduce traffic congestion in critically important points as España Boulevard, Abad Santos Avenue, Rizal Avenue and Lacson Avenue in Manila by diverting trucks and other vehicles from these major thoroughfares.
The elevated expressway is designed to provide greater access to key areas in Manila, including the so-called University Belt.
“We are on our final stretch of construction for this first segment of the NLEX Connector and we are looking forward to opening it before the end of March,” Manuel M. Bonoan, secretary at the Department of Public Works and Highways, said.
The next phase of the project is the three-kilometer section from España to Sta. Mesa also in Manila seen completed in the second quarter this year.
The four-lane (2×2) NLEX Connector should also help stimulate economic growth in the National Capital Region by improving mobility and boost overall productivity.
Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said: “The NLEX Connector augurs well for the agency’s mandate of providing convenient access for road users as it will address traffic congestion. We will ensure that a holistic traffic management plan will be in order so motorists can travel safely and seamlessly.”
Some 35,000 vehicles daily stand to benefit from the connector road and boost the operations of various businesses, especially those in logistics, as cargo trucks may use the facility 24/7 without having to worry about truck bans.
“We started the NLEX Connector España Section in February 2020 continuously despite the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the many challenges, we are pleased that the project is almost complete. We will continue to be a strategic partner of the government and focus on our goal of completing this infrastructure that will facilitate greater connection between the north and south,” J. Luigi L. Bautista, NLEX president and general manager, said.
The NLEX Connector stretches eight kilometers from the Caloocan Interchange on C3 Road all the way to the vicinity of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) in Sta. Mesa, Manila. It has on and off ramps at C3, España Blvd., and R. Magsaysay Blvd.
