Tollway firm set to start NLEx C-5 Link expressway project

Manila North Tollways Corp. a subsidiary of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp., is set to undertake its next road project called NLEx C-5 Link, which will connect the North Luzon Expressway to the South Luzon Expressway via C-5, MNTC president Rodrigo E. Franco said.

Franco said this project was a section of the Manila North Expressway concession of MNTC. The 7.85-kilometer NLEx C-5 Link will connect the NLEX main to C-5 through Mindanao Avenue. Estimated cost is P6.1 billion, inclusive of operating equipment and other facilities. Commercial operations are expected to start by June 2016.

Ramon S. Fernandez, MPTC president, said the project “represents MPTC’s continuing commitment to invest in projects that will promote economic development in both urban areas and the countryside.”

Earlier, MNTC completed a 2.7-km expressway that linked the NLEx main to Mindanao Avenue, with the country’s largest cloverleaf interchange called Smart Connect Interchange as its main feature.

When completed, NLEx C-5 Link will decongest traffic along Commonwealth Avenue and Quezon Avenue—the normal route of southbound motorists from northwest of Metro Manila. This will significantly cut down travel time and generate savings on fuel and vehicle wear and tear.

Initially, the project will be constructed as a 2×2 (four-lane divided) expressway expandable to a 2×3 (6-lane divided) when traffic volume reaches the threshold service level. It will follow an eastward route along Republic Avenue, turn to Luzon Avenue and end at Congressional Avenue Extension.

Northbound motorists from southeast of Metro Manila will benefit from the more direct route as they would be able to skip the congested routes to NLEx through EDSA and Balintawak Toll Plaza.

The project will have two interchanges in Mindanao and Regalado Avenues, and a round-about connection at Congressional Avenue where it will connect to the Commonwealth Avenue Flyover. There will also be three local crossings at Quirino, Sauyo and Chesnut Avenues.

It will be fitted with toll collection, traffic management and telecommunications systems in line with standard operating equipment at the NLEx.

Combined with the NLEx Harbor Link project, the NLEx C-5 Link will benefit truck haulers by allowing trucks to go on trips any time of the day bypassing areas enforcing the truck ban.

The 8-km NLEx Harbor Link Project is currently in the pre-construction stage. It will start construction by the fourth quarter of the year with an extension of the NLEx main to the Manila North Road (MacArthur Highway) in Valenzuela City, and eventually to the C-3 Road, which leads to the port areas in Manila. The Harbor Link Project will cost about P10 billion. Portion of the project will be constructed as an elevated highway over the existing rail right of way of Philippine National Railways.

The NLEx C-5 Link and the Harbor Link projects constitute Phase 2 of MNTC’s Manila North Expressway concession.