DPWH to open half of 30-km Tarlac-Nueva Ecija expressway by July

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is targeting to open half of the 30-kilometer Central Luzon Link Expressway (CLLEx) by July this year.

The entire project will cut travel time between Tarlac City and Cabanatuan City to 20 minutes from more than one hour.

Among the government infrastructure projects hit by pandemic-related delays, Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar said the first 18-km segment of CCLEx would open in the coming weeks.

This will run from Subic Clark Tarlac Expressway-Tarlac Pangansinan La Union Expressway connection in Tarlac City up to the intersection of Aliaga-Guimba Road in Aliaga, Nueva Ecija province.

Following an inspection this week, the DPWH said the first phase had reached a progress rate of 94 percent.

The Japanese International Cooperation Agency is funding the P11.8-billion project, the DPWH said.

Construction activities are moving forward as the government secures right-of-way (ROW) with the assistance of the Office of the Solicitor General.

“We are hopeful that we will finally secure full site possession of the remaining required ROW to allow our construction activities to go on full throttle” said Emil Sadain, DPWH undersecretary for unified project management office operations.

Expropriation proceedings were initiated for properties whose owners were unable to grant the request to donate or accept price offer for negotiated sale within a given timeframe.

The DPWH expects to make progress on subsequent sections as it secures ROW and given favorable weather conditions. INQ