FORMER President and now Pampanga Second District Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo led on Monday the ceremonial drive-thriugh that signaled the inauguration of new infrastructure projects, such as the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (Sctex) Mabiga Interchange and North Luzon Expressway (Nlex Sta. Ines-Magalang Exit that will help promote traffic safety and convenience for motorists traveling along Nlex, SCTEx and MacArthur Highway within the Greater Clark area.
Arroyo said the construction of the SCTEx and other strategic roads in her home province of Pampanga is her most important legacy for promoting investments. It is strategically important for making the Subic-Clark corridor the most competitive area in the region.
“As Kapampangans, we will do our share,” Arroyo said.
She added more Korean firms are interested in investing in Pampanga and “we have to pursue that in order to compete.” She believed the SCTExMabiga Interchange is vital in making Pampanga a center magnet of Manila.
The representative was joined by Nlex Corp. and Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. President and CEO Rodrigo E. Franco, Pampanga Chamber of Commerce Chairman Emeritus Levy P. Laus, Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) President and CEO Vivencio C. Dizon, Mabalacat City Mayor Crisostomo C. Garbo and other local government units and guests.
The tollways company converted the SCTEx Mabiga into a full-diamond interchange by building new access ramps with entry and exit toll plazas. This major expressway is expected to enhance road safety in this strategic location, where the two expressway systems merge with the local traffic network.
In addition, the interchange got a boost with the construction of a right-turning exit ramp to Mabalacat-Magalang Road to improve direct access to local roads in Magalang in the province of Pampanga.
After the ceremonial drive-through, a program took place at the Royce Hotel in Clark, Pampanga.
Raul Ignacio, senior vice president of construction and engineering and vice president for operations of Manila North Tollways Corp., said the interchange is worth P105 million. It has new entry and exit ramps and plazas from SCTEx to MacArthur Highway and vice versa, with two lanes per plaza. It will benefit the public in giving direct access between SCTEx and MacArthur Highway, will eliminate the need to make U-turn for vehicles bound to SCTEx. On the other hand, the exit is 270 meters in length and has a construction cost worth P27 million. It is a new exit ramp for Nlex to Mabalacat-Magalang road. It will make the delivery of goods and services faster and enhance public safety.
Both were completed in December last year and built by EEI Corp., as the contractor.
The BCDA is the original concessionaire of the SCTEx.
“We are proud to support Nlex Corp. in providing safe, reliable and people-oriented projects, such as the SCTEx Mabiga Interchange. The interchange will enable a smooth and faster flow of traffic for motorists going to Subic or Tarlac,” Dizon said, as they backed the company’s infrastructure projects.