NLEX Corp. on Monday inaugurated the first section of the NLEX Connector project, a five-kilometer elevated expressway seen to improve mobility in Metro Manila and greater economic development opportunities in north and south Luzon.
“The NLEX Connector is expected to spur economic development as it eases Metro Manila’s traffic congestion, increases productivity, improves logistics, and boosts communities,” Manuel V. Pangilinan, chairman of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. said.
“We continue to focus on our goal of delivering infrastructure that will facilitate greater connection between the north and the south,” he added.
Pangilinan said the MPTC sees to it that it builds sustainable infrastructure for the future generations.
Passing through urbanized areas such as C3 Road/5th Ave., Blumentritt, and España in Sampaloc, Manila, the first section of NLEX Connector is expected to ease traffic along España Boulevard, Abad Santos Avenue, Rizal Avenue, and Lacson Avenue and provide easier access to several areas including the so-called University Belt area.
It will also help divert vehicles from heavily congested roads of the capital as the new road caters to cars/SUVs, buses, trucks, and even motorcycles with displacement 400cc and above.
In its entirety, the P23-billion NLEX Connector stretches eight kilometers from Caloocan up to the vicinity of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) in Sta. Mesa, Manila. Construction of the second section from España to Sta. Mesa is ongoing and already 42 percent complete.
At full operation, the connector accommodates around 35,000 vehicles daily, providing better access to Manila Ports and airports such as NAIA and Clark.
NLEX President Luigi Bautista recognized the completion of Caloocan-España Section as “a new chapter in our history as we inaugurate the first section of NLEX Connector, an infrastructure project that transforms the landscape of Metro Manila and celebrates the best of the Filipino spirit.
He acknowledged the government’s “Build Better More” team, the Department of Public Works and Highways, the Department of Transportation and all the partners for their hard work and support for the project.
