The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is eyeing to open the first phase of the Central Luzon Link Expressway (CLLEX) by end of 2020.
Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar said on Thursday that the CLLEX Phase 1, which leads to Cabanatuan City, is now 82% complete. The agency is targeting to open the 25-kilometer stretch of the expressway by December 2020.
CLLEX project is a 4-lane 30-kilometer expressway from SCTEX (Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway) and TPLEX (Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway) connection in Balincanaway, Tarlac City and ends at Daang Maharlika in Brgy. Caalibangbangan, Cabanatuan City, according to Villar.
He said that the P14.94-billion flagship infrastructure project is designed to facilitate the movement of goods and services from SCTEX/TPLEX to the eastern part of Luzon towards Cagayan Valley, bypassing some town centers of Bulacan and Nueva Ecija. It is expected to reduce travel time between Tarlac City and Cabanatuan City from 70 minutes to just 20 minutes.
Apart from easing traffic congestion on Daang Maharlika Highway by about 48%, Villar said that around 11,200 motorists and commuters would be served by CLLEX daily.