NLEx toll to rise by June 4

MANILA, Philippines — Motorists passing through the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) will have to pay more by June 4 after the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) approved another toll hike.

Based on the new toll matrix, motorists traveling from Balintawak, Caloocan City to Marilao, Bulacan will have to pay additional P5 for class 1, P14 for class 2, and P17 for class 3 vehicles.

Class 1 vehicles include regular cars and sport utility vehicles while class 2 refers to buses and small trucks. Class 3 covers large trucks.

Those going between Metro Manila and Mabalacat City will be charged an additional P27 for class 1, P68 for class 2, and P81 for class 3 vehicles.

READ: NLEx toll increase starts June 15

The last time the TRB approved a toll hike for NLEx was in May last year for the same amount.

Enhancement projects

The toll fee increase will be implemented to help toll operator NLEx Corp., a unit of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp., recoup investments in recent years.

“From 2018 to 2020, the company has embarked on numerous infrastructure and enhancement projects to improve motorists’ safety and convenience,” the tollway operator said. These include toll system and equipment, roadway lighting, signage upgrade, and road expansion.

In January, the company said it had officially opened the new F. Raymundo Exit in Barangay Pandayan for class 1 vehicles and finished the widening of the Meycauayan northbound exit ramp.

READ: NLEx firm eyes P5B for expansion of tollway

The new exit is an alternative route for those going to Iba/Camalig, Metrogate, Lias, Lambakin and Pantoc, F. Raymundo, and Antonio Streets. Meanwhile, the additional lane in Meycauayan northbound exit ramp will cater to motorists going to Malhacan.

This year, the NLEx operator earmarked P12 billion for capital expenditures for its upcoming projects, including the P1.5-billion NLEx C5 Link Segment 8.2 – section 1A and NLEx phase 3 widening.

P12-B capex for 2024

The C5 Link project is a 2-kilometer toll road linking Mindanao Avenue to Quirino Highway in Novaliches.

The road widening project runs from NLEx San Fernando to the Subic–Clark–Tarlac Expressway Spur in Pampanga. Included in this project is the installation of roadway lighting infrastructure and the construction of the Mexico interchange.

Both projects are targeted to start by the third quarter of this year.

The company is also working on the P7.89-billion Candaba 3rd Viaduct project, a 5-km toll road connecting Apalit, Pampanga, and Pulilan, Bulacan. It is being constructed between two existing viaducts, expanding road capacity.

Recently, the TRB said that a toll hike would also be implemented at the Southern Luzon Expressway soon.

This will amount to P10 to P30 for motorists traveling from Alabang to Calamba. The added fee for motorists traversing Calamba to Sto. Tomas, Batangas ranges from P4 to P8.