The construction of two major expressways eyed to decongest traffic inside and outside the metropolis could begin within the next two years following the declaration of the South Luzon Expressway Toll Road 5 and Pasig River Expressway (PAREX) as toll road projects.
In a statement, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said that the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) declared the two projects as toll road projects upon the request of the Philippine National Construction Corporation and San Miguel Holdings Corporation.
“The PNCC-SMHC Joint Venture requested that government recognize the 2 projects as toll road project. These have their respective basic design plan. The TRB has given an instruction to the TWG to discuss the details of the project with the JV that will be the basis of the concession agreements. We are also waiting for the JV to submit certain requirements,” TRB executive director Sales said.
Following the declaration, the TRB’s Technical Working Group composed of representatives from the DOTr, Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Finance, and the National Economic and Development Authority are now in discussion with the private sector on the “technical, financial, and legal details of the 2 projects that will lead to the finalization of the concession agreement.”
The SLEX’s TR5 is a four-lane toll road that will start from Barangay Mayao Lucena City in Quezon and will end in Matnog, Sorsogon near the Matnog Ferry Terminal. The construction of the proposed 420-kilometer toll road will be composed of eight segments which include Lucena to Gumaca, Gumaca to Tagkawayan, Tagkawayan to Sipocot, Sipocot to Naga City, Naga City to Polangui, Polangui to Legaspi City, Legaspi City to Sorsogon, and Sorsogon to Matnog.
The agency said that the first segment of the project has an estimated cost of P22.6 billion and will be constructed for a period of 24 months.
Meanwhile, the 19.37km PAREX is a six lane elevated expressway that will connect Manila to the province of Rizal.
The expressway will begin from Radial Road 10 in Manila and will end at a connection to the South East Metro Manila Expressway at Circumferential Road 6 (C6).
The agency said that PAREX will be composed of three segments, namely: R-10 to Plaza Azul, Plaza Azul to San Juan River, San Juan River to C5 Intersection, and C5 Intersection to C6 Intersection. The project has an estimated cost of P95.413 billion and will take 36 months to complete.
