NLEX Corp. is investing more than P8 billion into expanding its network of expressways to improve traffic flow and connectivity.
J. Luigi Bautista, NLEX president and general manger, said the company has allotted P2.1 billion to build the NLEX C5 Link Segment 8.2 Section 1A, a two-kilometer section of NLEX C5 Link from NLEX Mindanao Avenue to Quirino Highway in Novaliches.
“The project has already been approved by the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) and the only remaining outstanding issue there is th completion of the right of way. Today it’s about 78 percent in terms of ROW acquisition,” Bautista said.
“Once we get substantial acquisition, we will start building. If we start building in the third quarter, we should be able to finish in less than one year,’ he added.
Also, NLEX submitted for TRB approval the third phase of a widening project involving the building of new expressway lanes from NLEX San Fernando to SCTEX Spurt in Pampanga.
“Hopefully, we can get the TRB approval soon and start the project in the third quarter of this year,” Bautista said.
NLEX, in collaboration with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), is building the Santo Tomas Interchange as part of the Greater Pampanga Circumferential Road Masterplan that will connect to DPWH’s Lubao-Guagua-Minalin-Santo Tomas (LGMST) bypass project.
The Sto. Tomas Interchange will also help decongest the Olongapo-Gapan Road by bringing North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) closer to the towns in the west.
Bautista said NLEX will spend P6.5 billion to upgrade the two expressway projects.
The NLEX spans over 105 kilometers or 598 lane-kilometers and services an average of 323,791 vehicles per day as of end-2023.
The SCTEX, on the other hand, is a 91-km or 362 lane-kilometer stretch from Subic-Tipo until La Paz, Tarlac linking the special economic zones in Subic and Clark, Olongapo City, to Tarlac City.
