The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is eyeing to open the first segment of the Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX) in October.
DPWH Secretary Mark Villar said that around 10,000 vehicles are expected to benefit from the project. “Opening this first segment will be beneficial to the growing industrial, commercial, and real estate centers of this part of the Southern Tagalog Region,” he said.
During an ocular inspection of the 10-kilometer segment from Mamplasan Toll Barrier to Silang East, Cavite interchange, Villar added that the infrastructure project would eventually decongest Governor’s Drive, Aguinaldo Highway, and Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay Road.
“We are nearing the opening this October. Despite some challenges in the ROW (right of way) acquisition which kept us from delivering earlier as we hoped, we are addressing these challenges in order to keep to the timeline and deliver the full 45 kilometers by early 2022,” Villar explained.
From two hours, travel time will be cut down to 45 minutes once the project is completed.
The first segment of CALAX begins at the Mamplasan Barrier which passes through the Laguna Technopark Interchange, Laguna Boulevard Interchange, and towards the Santa-Rosa-Tagaytay Interchange.
MP Cala Holdings, Inc. president Bobby Bontia said that they are looking to complete the 45-kilometer segment by the second quarter of 2022.
“A faster, safer, more comfortable and a reliable route will be experienced by motorists traversing between Bacoor and Kawit, Cavite areas, and the Laguna and South Luzon areas,” Bontia asserted.
He said that CALAX will have features such as automatic license plate recognition which would enable barrier-less entry. IP-based speed detection cameras will also be installed throughout the expressway as well as gasoline stations, retail outlets, convenience stores, and restaurants.
CALAX is a four-lane 45-kilometer expressway which will link CAVITEx in Kawit to SLEX at the Mamplasan Interchange in Biñan, Laguna. It will have eight interchanges: Kawit, Daang Hari, Governor’s Drive, Aguinaldo Highway, Silang, Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay, Laguna Blvd., Technopark, and a toll barrier right before SLEX.
