MNTC opens new NLEx segment

MANILA, Philippines–Manila North Tollways Corp. (MNTC), operator of North Luzon Expressway, opened on March 19 a 2.42-kilometer NLEx road section  providing alternative access to Valenzuela City and the port area in Manila, a statement showed.

MNTC, a unit of Manuel V. Pangilinan-led Metro Pacific Investments Corp., said it had opened the so-called segment 9 of the Harbor Link, which would serve about 27,000 vehicles per day in its first year. The project, connecting NLEx from the Smart Connect Interchange to MacArthur Highway in Karuhatan, Valenzuela City, came at a cost of P1.6 billion, MNTC said.

“Vehicles going to Camanava (Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas and Valenzuela City)  via NLEx can take the west-bound ramp at the Smart Connect Interchange, proceed through Segment 9 and take MacArthur Highway instead of exiting at the Valenzuela Interchange and passing through the congested Maysan Road,” MNTC president Rodrigo E. Franco said in a statement on Thursday.

“Vehicles going to the Port Area can take the same route and pass by Monumento in Caloocan instead of exiting at Balintawak and going through traffic-heavy Edsa,” he added.

By easing the traffic, Segment 9 will facilitate the movement of people and goods between Central and North Luzon and Metro Manila, particularly the Camanava area.

“By linking NLEx and MacArthur Highway, we expect to see increased economic activities in these areas since it will improve transport logistics through the more efficient movement of trucks,” Franco said.