MABALACAT CITY—The P700-million integration of the North Luzon Expressway (Nlex) and the Subic Clark Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx) is 30-percent done and will be completed as scheduled in November, an official of the Manila North Tollways Corp. (MNTC) disclosed over the weekend.
MNTC President Rodrigo E. Franco said “there were some delays in the paperwork and signing of agreements,” but the integration would be completed as announced earlier.
The Manuel V. Pangilinan-led MNTC, builder and concessionaire of the Nlex, said the integration of the two expressways will largely benefit the at least 184,000 average daily users of the 86.7-kilometer (km) Nlex.
“People using the Nlex and SCTEx will save at least 20 minutes of travel time when the integration is done because there will be only two stops from Balintawak to Subic or Tarlac,” he said. “But there will be more time saved when there is a huge volume of vehicles and traffic at the two expressways.”
Among the barriers that will be removed are the Nlex Dau Barrier and the SCTEx Mabalacat Toll Barrier. New toll plazas will be constructed at the existing entry and exit ramps at Nlex Dau and Santa Ines. A new SCTEx Tarlac Toll Plaza will also be constructed.
The state-owned Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) is the concessionaire of the 94-km SCTEx. The MNTC is expected to take over the SCTEx concession this year as it set to be awarded the contract for the management, operation and maintenance of the SCTEx.
On September 11 the BCDA announced it completed the rehabilitation of the SCTEx Pasig-Potrero Bridge and is now fully operational to all vehicles.
The P71.6-million long-term and permanent rehabilitation works of the Pasig-Potrero Bridge involved bridge construction, slope protection work, as well as earthworks, sub base and base course and surface courses, the BCDA said.
The MNTC said the SCTEx’s annual traffic is estimated at 30.8 million for 2014, up from 9.3 million when it opened in 2008, reports said. It added that the SCTEx has more than P1 billion in revenue yearly.