NLEX Connector to boost mobility, economic growth
THE vital infrastructure North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) Connector is seen to improve mobility in the metropolis and adjacent provinces, and is expected to support economic growth, Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Jaime J. Bautista said Monday, March 27, 2023.
Bautista joined President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. during the inauguration of the first section of the NLEX Connector, a five-kilometer elevated expressway that is expected to improve connectivity and mobility in Metro Manila.
“This project is very important to the riding public because it will ease traffic, allowing commuters to spend quality time with their families,” Bautista said, adding the NLEX Connector will accelerate the delivery of services and goods.
President Marcos Jr. said the synergy between the government and private sector is a defining factor in the development of the country.
“I call upon the DOTr and NLEX Corporation to work closely and effectively in accomplishing our noble objective in the road infrastructure on this side of the country,” the President said.
A Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Road Project between the Department of Public Works and Highway (DPWH) and Metro Pacific-led NLEX Corporation, the NLEX Connector Caloocan-España Section will address traffic congestion in the metropolis and will improve efficiency on the road.
Passing through urbanized areas such as C3 Road and 5th Avenue in Caloocan City and Blumentritt and España in Manila, the first section of NLEX Connector is expected to ease traffic along España Boulevard, Abad Santos Avenue, Rizal Avenue, and Lacson Avenue and provide easier access to several areas including the University Belt.
According to the NLEX Corporation, the NLEX Connector Caloocan-España Section will also help divert vehicles from heavily congested roads of the capital as the new road caters to cars/SUVs (sport utility vehicles), buses, trucks, and even motorcycles.
With entry and exit ramps at C3 Road and España, the new elevated expressway will cut travel time between Caloocan and Manila and vice versa to just five minutes, boosting productivity and ensuring the timely delivery of goods and services.
The improved connectivity will make daily commuting to and from Metro Manila and nearby provinces more efficient and beneficial for the public, added NLEX Corp.
The entire P23-billion worth NLEX connector stretches eight kilometers from Caloocan City up to the vicinity of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) in Sta. Mesa, Manila.
During its full operations, the expressway aims to serve around 35,000 vehicles daily, providing better access to Manila ports and airports such as the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and Clark International Airport (CRK).
