Tollroad firm’s project pipeline swells to P153B

The tollroad unit of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. said its pipeline of projects had swelled to P153 billion, with the construction of several big-ticket roads underway, even as it also expands its flagship North Luzon Expressway.

Metro Pacific subsidiary Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) said the amount included public private partnership (PPP) projects such as its P60-billion, 45-kilometer Cavite Laguna Expressway, which is slated for completion in 2020.

Also outlined were its P23.3-billion NLEx and South Luzon Expressway connector road in Metro Manila and its P11.7-billion Cavite Expressway C5 South Link (R-1 in Parañaque to C5 and then Cavitex).

In the Visayas area, the company said its P27.9-billion Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway had also started construction. Its target completion was set in December 2020.

A major portion of the spending figure included expansion projects at the NLEx. Metro Pacific Tollways said the biggest of these was its NLEx Harbor Link Segment 10 (MacArthur Highway to C3 road to Radial R10). The P10.5-billion project will be finished by December this year.

The company is also increasing the capacity of NLEx by building additional lanes and exits and expanding toll plazas and interchanges. Its Subic Clark Tarlac Expressway “pavement and traffic management and safety enhancements” are also being upgraded. A total of P1.8 billion has been invested in these upgrades along the NLEx and the SCTEx.

The update was given as the company announced its annual motorist assistance program, meant to give added convenience to motorists during the upcoming Holy Week. Typically, traffic at MPTC’s expressways increases 15 percent during this period.