The 2-year construction of NLEX-SLEX Connector Road Project commenced on Thursday, February 28, 2019 – two (2) months ahead of its original start-up date in May 2019.
President Rodrigo Roa Duterte together with Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark A. Villar, Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur P. Tugade, Department of Budget and Management (DBM) Secretary Benjamin E. Diokno, Department of Finance (DOF) Secretary Carlos G. Dominguez III, and National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Secretary Ernesto M. Pernia and executives from the concessionaire Manila North Tollways Corporation (MNTC) spearheaded the early groundbreaking of the project aimed to provide an 8-kilometer unimpeded link between NLEX and SLEX.
“Identification of right-of-way (ROW) requirement and most of acquisition activities were completed hence the earlier as planned start of construction activities for the NLEX-SLEX Connector Road Project,” said Secretary Villar.
The NLEX-SLEX Connector Road will be an 8-kilometer all elevated 4-lane toll expressway that will reduce travel time between NLEX and SLEX from two (2) hours to just 20 minutes and between Clark and Calamba from current (3) hours to just one (1) hour and 40 minutes.
Upon completion, the toll road is expected to benefit around 35,000 motorists/vehicles per day as it can also serve as an alternative route of trucks during truck-ban and provide an access road to and from Manila Port and airports in Manila and Clark.
The P23.3 Billion NLEX-SLEX Connector Road Project involves the extension of NLEX southward from the end of Segment 10 in C3 Road, Caloocan City to PUP Sta. Mesa, Manila and connecting to the Skyway Stage 3. The project traverses along the PNR rail track will have two (2) interchanges located at C3 Road/5th Avenue, Caloocan and España Avenue, Manila.