Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark A. Villar announced that the construction of the Central Luzon Link Expressway (CLLEX) Phase 1, Contract Package 1, beginning at the connection of Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) and Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX) in Balincanaway, Tarlac is nearing completion.
Secretary Mark A. Villar said during the project inspection on Friday, May 24, 2019 that the Contract Package 1 with budget amounting to P1.603 Billion is now 97% completed.
Contract Package 1 involves the construction of a 4-lane expressway, spanning 4.1 kilometers, with the provision of an underpass bridge and two (2) farm passages.
Overall, the CLLEX Phase 1 is divided into four (4) packages which covers the construction of a 30-kilometer, 4-lane expressway which when completed will shorten the usual travel time of 70 minutes between Tarlac City and Cabanatuan City to just 20 minutes.
Its alignment will traverse the municipalities of La Paz, in Tarlac and Zaragoza and Aliaga in Nueva Ecija and will benefit an annual average daily traffic of 11,200 motorists.
“This project will decongest Daang Maharlika by 48% by serving as an alternate route to and fro the two (2) cities. Aside from that, we expect the project to promote more livelihood opportunities in Region 3 that will further contribute in reducing traffic in Metro Manila,” said Secretary Villar.
The CLLEX Phase 1 is being implemented by the DPWH-UPMO Road Management Cluster I headed by Undersecretary Emil K. Sadain with a total budget cost of P14.93 billion from the Official Development Assistance (ODA) Fund.
“As part of the ‘Build, Build, Build’ program, this project will help in boosting economic and tourism growth in the region by providing a safe, fast, comfortable, and reliable road network,” Secretary Villar added.