First 10 kilometers of CALAX to open in July

Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) is setting up to open the first ten-kilometer segment of the Cavite Laguna Expressway (CALAX). The road way is expected to open in July as stated by MPTC’s subsidiary, MPCALA Holdings Inc. The construction of the project is planned to start in the month of June 2019. 

The 45.29-kilometer CALAX connects the Manila-Cavite Expressway to the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX). The travel time between these two locations will go down from one hour and thirty minutes to 45 minutes, cutting the travel time in half. 

The segment will span from Mamplasan to Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay Highway with the toll going at a rate of P4.50 per kilometer traveled as stated by MPTC chief financial officer, Christopher Daniel Lizo. 

There are a few issues regarding the scheduling, however. A possible hurdle is on the Cavite side of the expressway. Right of way problems might cause delays to this side of the highway, while everything on the Laguna side of the highway will be on track. This issue could be problematic as Lizo said that the right of way should have been delivered in July of 2017. There is progress however, on the seven-kilometer segment of Governor’s Drive interchange to Silang (Aguinaldo) Interchange. 

With development underway and construction planned, the whole expressway segment is expected to have a lead time of two years. If the construction pulls through without delays, the project can finish by 2021. This newest segment will give motorists another alternative when going down south to Cavite. The 45-minutes in time savings that this segment will bring to motorists in going to and from the Metro will be of huge benefit. Trucks utilizing the highways can also benefit from another road taking some of the load off current routes. 

It still remains to be seen whether the expressway will proceed as planned, but we are hopeful, as any project that streamlines traffic and improves travel time is a win in our book.