QUEZON CITY, (PIA) –The España to Sta.Mesa section of NLEX-SLEX connector is now 66.64 percent competed, according to the Department of Public Works & Highways (DPWH).

Undersecretary for Planning and Public-Private Partnership Services Maria Catalina E. Cabral, inspected on Tuesday, October 17, 2023, the ongoing construction of the 2.55-kilometer NLEX-SLEX Connector Road Section 2 spanning from España Boulevard to the Polytechnic University of the Philippines (PUP) in Sta. Mesa, Manila.

“We want to ensure that right-of-way and construction activities are right on schedule in order to provide seamless travel for motorists, most especially trucks coming from the ports at North Harbor as well as to improve the connectivity and traffic flow between the Southern and Northern part of Luzon and its surrounding areas,” Cabral said.

According to the DPWH official, a total of 1.84 kilometer of 4-lane road have already been finished, including the on and off ramp at España Boulevard, while civil works for the entry and exit ramps at Magsaysay Boulevard are being fast-tracked for opening within the last quarter of the year.

When completed, NLEX-SLEX Connector Road Section 2 will link the España Boulevard interchange to the end of Manila Skyway Stage 3 at PUP Sta. Mesa, Manila.

The entire NLEX-SLEX Connector Road, which spans a total of 7.70 kilometers from the end of NLEX Segment 10 at Circumferential Road 3 (C-3) at Caloocan to the end of Manila Skyway Stage 3 at PUP Sta. Mesa, Manila, is a joint project between the Philippine Government thru DPWH and Manila North Tollways Corporation (MNTC) under the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) Program.

“With construction activities on track for the final section, around 35,000 mixed vehicular traffic including heavy vehicles traveling per day from SLEX to NLEX will soon enjoy reduced logistical costs brought by shorter travel time from the current two (2) hours to just 20 minutes,” Cabral added.

Also present during the inspection were DPWH PPP Service OIC Director Pelita V. Galvez, DPWH Planning Service Director Alex G. Bote, NLEX Vice President for Tollway and Development Engineering Nemesio G. Castillo, PPP Service Division Chief David C. Galang, Construction Manager Engineer Ryan Mallari, NLEX Independent Consultant Alex Alcazar, and other officials and representatives from MPTC and NLEX Corporation. (dpwh/pia-ncr)