NLEX Corp. said the construction along the first five-kilometer section of the NLEX Connector project between Caloocan and España Interchanges is in full swing and has now reached Abad Santos and Blumentritt streets in Manila.
During their latest progress inspection on Monday, Public Works and Highways Sec. Mark Villar said that the project is now 35 percent complete.
“We are working together with NLEX to expedite the right-of-way delivery within the properties of the Philippine National Railways (PNR),” Villar said.
“Bored piling works and concrete casting of columns have started in the Manila area from Solis all the way to Dimasalang. The NLEX Connector is a P23 Billion project under the Build! Build! Build! Program and is expected to accommodate around 35,000 motorists daily. Upon completion, this section will bring NLEX commuters directly to the University Belt in Manila,” he added.
The latest elevated expressway section in Metro Manila is being constructed along the Philippine National Railways (PNR) tracks between Harbor Link-Caloocan Interchange along C3 Road/5th Ave. and España Blvd. in Sampaloc, Manila. This section will have on and off ramps in España Interchange and will make NLEX directly accessible to Manila.
The company said that the next three-kilometer elevated section between España Interchange and the vicinity of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines in Sta. Mesa, Manila is ready for construction by June 2021.
“We are doing everything we can to accelerate the completion of this high impact expressway that will benefit the motoring public. The entire 8-km NLEX Connector is vital to ensure improved mobility within Metro Manila,” NLEX Corporation president and GM J. Luigi L. Bautista said.
The P23-billion project aims to provide better access to Manila Ports and NAIA and Clark airports. It is expected to reduce travel time from NLEX to South Luzon Expressway from two hours to just 20 minutes, and is seen to support business activities in fast-growing regions such as Central Luzon and Calabarzon.