NLEX Connector construction might start earlier than original schedule

The North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) Corporation is confident that the NLEX Connector will meet its designated deadline. The firm says that they’ve successfully kept up with the schedule. The first phase of the project, the one that starts from C3 Road in Caloocan City to Espana in Manila, is slated to begin in May 2019. 

However, construction might end up happening sooner as the NLEX Corporation and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) have agreed for a more aggressive schedule which is January 2019. According to NLEX Corporation, the NLEX Connector is a ‘crucial infrastructure’ that will help resolve Metro Manila’s traffic situation so it’s better if it gets done as soon as possible. 

In addition, the changes in schedule happened in consideration of NLEX Corporation’s and DPWH’s joint right-of-way (ROW), which has DPWH’s full support. So, what will happen is DPWH’s full commitment in providing the ROW requirements would push the NLEX Connector project ahead of its schedule, from May 2021 to December 2020. 

To show its full commitment, DPWH Secretary Mark Villar listed a ROW task force for a more organized and timelier ROW acquisition and delivery. 

The eight-kilometer elevated four-lane NLEX Connector would extend southbound NLEX from Harbor Link Segment 10 in C3 Road to Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) Sta. Mesa, Manila. This is designed for a seamless expressway connection. Over 35,000 motorists are expected to benefit from this project. 

The NLEX Connector is just one of the multiple new roads that we are looking forward to under the #BuildBuildBuild project of the Duterte administration. It is also one of the first Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects awarded by the administration in 2016.