MPTC unit eyes NLEx extension project

The North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) Corp. is looking at the second half of the year to submit to the government its proposal to build the P20-billion Phase 3 of NLEx.

Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) President Rodrigo Franco said the group may submit by that time its proposal to the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) to pursue the uncompleted segment of the expressway.

The third phase of NLEx aims to extend the expressway to Bataan.

“We’re hoping second half we’ll submit to TRB, but that will take some more time because ROW (right of way) will have to be acquired,” Franco said recently.

“A classic inter-urban is phase 3 of NLEx. It will be an extension going to Dinalupihan, Bataan. That’s the alignment of Phase 3. That’s part of the concession of NLEx that has not been built, delayed a little bit because SCTEx (Subic–Clark–Tarlac Expressway) was built also,” he explained.

NLEx Corp., operator of NLEx and SCTEx, is a unit of MPTC, the tollways arm of the Pangilinan-led Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC).

With an estimated project cost of “more than P20 billion,” Franco said the 40-kilometer phase 3 will run “before San Fernando after Apalit then cuts across Guagua to Dinalupihan.”

The 97-kilometer expressway stretches from Balintawak, Quezon City to Sta. Ines, Mabalacat City, Pampanga.

Late in April, NLEX started preliminary works on the P23.3-billion NLEx-SLEx Connector Road, which is seen to cut travel time between NLEx and SLEx from two hours to 20 minutes.

The infrastructure is also expected to ease traffic woes and cater to around 35,000 motorists per day.

The main line of NLEx Harbor Link Segment 10, from MacArthur Highway Karuhutan, Valenzuela City, passing through Malabon City and C3 Road, Caloocan City, was also opened to the motoring public in February.

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