Construction of NLEX Connector Sta. Mesa Section begins

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and NLEX Corporation have officially broke ground to mark the start of construction for the second section of the NLEX Connector.

This followed the signing of the agreement between the tollway operator and China Road and Bridges Corporation (CRBC) for the civil works contract that will cover the remaining three kilometers of the elevated expressway.

The program was led by DPWH Secretary Roger Mercado, Undersecretaries Maria Catalina Cabral and Rafael Yabut, Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC) President and Chief Executive Officer Rodrigo Franco, and NLEX Corp President and General Manager (GM) J. Luigi Bautista.

Also gracing the ceremonies were Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) Executive Director Alvin Carullo, Philippine National Railways (PNR) Assistant GM Ces Lauta, NLEX Corporation’s Chief Finance Officer Ma. Theresa Wells and Vice President for Tollway Development and Engineering Nemesio Castillo, as well as CRBC’s GM Ren Xiaopeng and Marketing Manager Haiyan Mo.

The whole eight-kilometer stretch of the NLEX Connector uses portions of the PNR's right-of-way. This thoroughfare extends the expressway southward from the NLEX Harbor Link Caloocan Interchange, 5th Avenue/C3 Road passing through España Boulevard, Ramon Magsaysay Boulevard, and eventually connecting to the Skyway Stage 3 in Sta Mesa, Manila (within the vicinity of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines).

“We are committed to provide the necessary right-of-way for this project as we target to complete this segment by the end of 2022. Upon completion, the NLEX Connector will enable Manila Ports to have a seamless north-south connection and provide further convenience to motorists with the decongestion of major thoroughfares like EDSA and C5,” Mercado was quoted as saying.

Set to lighten the load of local roads, the NLEX Connector will help divert cargo trucks to the elevated expressway. Truckers who will use the said road will enjoy unhampered movement as the route does not employ any truck ban. In turn, the supply chain and logistics sector’s delivery of goods will no longer be affected by the traffic regulation.

“The Metro Pacific Group actively contributes to accelerating infrastructure development in the Philippines. This new elevated expressway hopes to support the country’s economic recovery by helping reduce traffic congestion in the metro and offering those with private cars and commercial vehicles ease of travel,” Franco said.

 “The project will enhance accessibility to international airports such as NAIA and Clark, help generate jobs, and stimulate development between Metro Manila and its surrounding provinces in the north and south,” he added.

Once opened, the new road is expected to cater to 35,000 motorists.

“Together with our government partners, we remain steadfast in ramping up this high-impact elevated expressway that will benefit the motoring public and nearby communities,” Bautista noted.

Relatedly, the first five-kilometer section of the project between Caloocan and España interchanges is now nearing 60 percent.

Photos from NLEX Corporation

Also read:

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NLEX elevated connector now stretches to Manila