NEWLY installed Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Acting Secretary Roger Mercado recently inspected the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) Connector to familiarize himself with the construction progress and right-of-way requirements of the project.

With him were DPWH Undersecretary Catalina Cabral, DPWH Public-Private Partnership Director Alex Bote, DPWH Project Manager Dave Galang, and NLEX Corporation Vice President for Tollway Development and Engineering Nemesio Castillo.

NLEX Corporation is accelerating the construction of the NLEX Connector as the DPWH remains committed to fast-track the right-of-way delivery so motorists can soon benefit from this high-impact infrastructure that will provide ease of travel and support economic growth.

“This new expressway will greatly benefit the public. We will continue our efforts to deliver the right of way needed for the NLEX Connector as we target to complete this in the first quarter of next year,” Mercado said.

A public-private partnership project between Metro Pacific Tollways led-NLEX Corporation and the DPWH, the NLEX Connector is an 8-kilometer elevated expressway aimed at alleviating traffic congestion and improving mobility within Metro Manila.

Participating in the government’s “Build Build Build” program, NLEX has allotted P23 billion for this massive infrastructure investment.

The first five-kilometer section of the expressway, which is now halfway complete, traverses Caloocan Interchange on C3/5th Avenue to España Boulevard in Sampaloc, Manila.

The next three-kilometer section spans from España Interchange up to the vicinity of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines in Sta. Mesa, Manila.

When completed, this new elevated road is expected to serve around 35,000 motorists daily and is seen as a viable 24/7 route for truckers delivering goods between north and south of Metro Manila.