Subic expressway undergoes P105-M upgrade

NLEX Corp. has begun a P105-million enhancement work at the Subic Freeport Expressway (SFEX) to make it safer for motorists.

In a statement on Wednesday, the subsidiary of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) said the project included pavement surface upgrade, construction of ditch and slope protection, installation of guard rails and application of hazard paint to make the road infrastructure safer.

“We aim to make our roads safe for all weather conditions. With these enhancements, we expect to further protect motorists from roadside hazards by strengthening the slopes and improving the drainage system and other safety features at the SFEX,” NLEX Corp. president J. Luigi L. Bautista said. Upgrading the pavement surface of SFEX, he said, would “help drain water away from the roadway especially during heavy rains.” NLEX added that “concrete barriers and other structures are painted with hazard warning marking to make motorists aware of potential risks.” The MPTC subsidiary completed the P1.6-billion SFEX expansion last year, which included a new 16.4-kilometer lane, two bridges and a tunnel. Earlier, it said it had set aside P1.2 billion to improve the infrastructure and toll collection at the North Luzon Expressway. The tollway company is set to replace about 100 toll system equipment, including toll fare indicators and traffic control gates. NLEX Corp. is also slated to begin by the second half the construction of the NLEx C5 Link section between the Mindanao Avenue toll plaza and Quirino Highway in Novaliches, Quezon City and the third bridge at the Candaba Viaduct.