Mean weather should not deter the MPCALA Holdings Inc., which won the Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX) concession, from completing the Governor’s Drive Interchange segment of the project by the first quarter of 2025.
The company said the 7.8-kilometer interchange is expected to decongest traffic on major roads in Cavite, particularly the Aguinaldo Highway in Silang, and help spur economic activity for the cities and municipalities along the alignment in the province.
The segment will be the longest operational section of CALAX while the two remaining segments are still under construction. The segment is 25 percent complete.
Raul Ignacio, MPCALA president and general manager, said the company is committed to deliver the segment on schedule despite the recent typhoons.
“Despite the challenges faced in construction brought about by the recent typhoons, we are pressing forward to ensure the timely delivery of the Governor’s Drive Interchange,” Ignacio said.
When operational, this piece of infrastructure will ease traffic congestion, provide a faster route for thousands of motorists, and stimulate economic growth across Cavite and CALABARZON, he said.
In addition to the Governor’s Drive Interchange, two other major segments, Subsection 2 (Open Canal Interchange) and Subsection 1 (Kawit Interchange), are15 percent and 25 percent complete, respectively.
Both segments are expected to open by the third quarter of 2025 and will eventually connect CALAX to the Manila-Cavite Expressway (CAVITEX) via the CAVITEX-CALAX Link. The completion rate of the entire CALAX project is 64 percent.
At present, CALAX serves over 45,000 motorists daily. When connected to the CAVITEX, it will serve at least 95,000 motorists, significantly improving traffic flow and accessibility between Cavite, Laguna, and the greater Manila area.
The 4-lane expressway has eight interchanges with operating segments at Laguna Technopark, Laguna Boulevard, Santa Rosa-Tagaytay Road, Silang East, and the Silang (Aguinaldo) Interchange, with remaining segments Governor’s Drive, Open Canal and Kawit still in construction.
When fully completed, CALAX will reduce travel time from CAVITEX (Kawit) to SLEX (Mamplasan Interchange in Biñan, Laguna) from two hours to 35 minutes, enhancing connectivity between NCR and the CALABARZON region.
MPCALA is a subsidiary of Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation. Aside from CALAX, MPTC‘s domestic portfolio includes Manila-Cavite Expressway (CAVITEX), North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), the NLEX Connector Road, the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), and the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX) in Cebu.
