NLEX to extend road to Bataan
posted November 21, 2017 at 07:20 pm by Darwin G. Amojelar
http://manilastandard.net/
NLEX Corp. will propose to the Toll Regulatory Board the extension of the North Luzon Expressway to Bataan province.
“We’re packaging the project, hopefully in three months we can submit the proposal but it’s part of our concession,” NLEX president and chief executive Rodrigo Franco said.
NLEX Phase 3, with the project cost estimated at over P10 billion, is a 37.76-kilometer, two by two-lane expressway from Sto. Tomas, Pampanga to Dinalupihan, Bataan.
Franco said the company was expecting to complete the right of way acquisition in two years and start the construction by 2020.
Phase 1 of NLEX consists of four segments with a total length of 92 kilometers, including the rehabilitated and expanded 84-km stretch from Balintawak, Quezon City to Mabalacat, Pampanga and the 8.5-km Segment 7 from Hermosa, Bataan to Subic Freeport.
Phase 2 of NLEX consists four segments with a length of 21 kilometers, involving the construction of the greenfield northern C5 to connect the existing C5 from C.P. Garcia Ave. in the University of the Philippines complex in Diliman, Quezon City to NLEX, and extend westward to MacArthur Highway in Valenzuela City, turning south down to C3 in Caloocan City.
NLEX also expanded its San Fernando Interchange in Mabalacat City in Pampanga to ease mounting traffic issues within the vicinity of SM San Fernando and Robinsons Malls and match the progress in one of the busiest tollway interchanges.
Two new bridges crossing the NLEX were built to function as separate carriageways, while the interchange ramps were widened to four lanes in each direction. The east and west roundabouts along Jose Abad Santos Avenue were also removed to pave way for the installation of automated traffic signals.
Meanwhile, the Sta. Ines Interchange also in Mabalacat City is also being expanded to accommodate increasing traffic growth. NLEX is constructing a new right-turning ramp in the direction of the Mabalacat-Magalang Road and improve access to the SCTEX.
Along the San Simon interchange, the main bridge is undergoing retrofitting as part of NLEX’s bid to ensure safety of motorists. Built in 1970s, the bridge needs repair to improve strength and durability.
Traffic impact studies are also in the works to decongest San Simon and Angeles interchanges.
Earlier this year, the NLEX fully opened to the public new expressway lanes between the Sta. Rita to San Fernando and Dau to Sta. Ines portions of the NLEX, which have since improved travel time and safer travel in Bulacan and Pampanga.
NLEX earlier said it was investing P29.43 billion in expressway projects between 2018 and 2020.
The projects include NLEX Segment 10 which is projected to be operational by the first half 2018; Segment 10 from C3 to R10 section to be completed by first quarter of 2019; and the Subic Freeport Expressway to be finished by the first quarter of 2019.
The NLEX-SLEX Connector Road is expected to be completed by the first quarter of 2021.
