INQUIRER FILE PHOTO
The entire stretch of the 44.57-kilometer (km) Cavite-Laguna Expressway (Calax) is on track to welcome motorists by the third quarter of next year, providing better connectivity within the Calabarzon region.
MPCALA Holdings Inc., a subsidiary of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC), said the tollway project currently stands at 64-percent completion rate.
Ongoing works for the project include excavation works, bridge and drainage construction, and installation of fences.
READ: MPTC unit aims to resolve Calax right of way issues this year
By the first quarter of next year, the Governor’s Drive interchange—which is a part of the tollway’s Cavite segment—is set to be completed. This 7.8-km portion is seen to decongest traffic on major roads in Cavite such as the Aguinaldo Highway in Silang.
“Once operational, this vital infrastructure will ease traffic congestion, provide a faster route for thousands of motorists, and stimulate economic growth across Cavite and Calabarzon,” MPCALA Holdings president and general manager Raul Ignacio said.
The other two Cavite interchanges, Open Canal and Kawit, are expected to be finished by the third quarter of next year.
Calax will then eventually be connected to Manila-Cavite Expressway (Cavitex) via the 7.4-km Cavitex-Calax Link project.
The Laguna segment of Calax is fully operational. These comprise Silang (Aguinaldo), Silang East, Sta. Rosa, Laguna Blvd. and Laguna Technopark interchanges.
The MPTC unit noted that the expressway is currently serving over 45,000 motorists daily. The volume is estimated to grow to 95,000 once the entire tollway is operational.
The tollway operator earmarked P11.95-billion worth of capital expenditures to complete the Calax project and the Cavitex C-5 Link by 2025.