Story & Photo by Ronald Rey M. de los Reyes
THE long wait is finally over. The elevated part of the North Luzon Expressway-Harbor Link—the 5.7-kilometer Segment 10 in particular—opened to the public today. Traversing the cities of Valenzuela, Malabon and Caloocan, the said feat is expected to ease travel between key areas of Metro Manila and Northern Luzon via the NLEX.
In a brief parley with the media early this week, NLEX Corp. Senior Vice President for Communications Romulo Quimbo Jr. conveyed: “Around 30,000 vehicles are expected to use this road and travel time between C-3 and NLEX will now only take approximately 10 minutes.”
“Also, one main objective for this is to decongest traffic caused by trucks since they can already go straight from here all the way to the port area,” he added.
Another plus for the said expressway is that there are no truck bans imposed on it. Logistics companies are also expected to benefit from the project, as it allows cargo trucks to bypass Balintawak Cloverleaf and Edsa en route to Metro Manila.
The NLEX Harbor Link Segment 10 was already envisioned and first started construction as early as 2013 under the previous government to alleviate traffic congestion and drive commerce between the harbor area and Central to North Luzon. It was seen to advance transport logistics and facilitate efficient delivery of goods.
According to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) then, the P10.5-billion project is comprised of two segments: Segment 8.2 and Segment 10. Segment 8.2 is a 7.5-km, four-lane divided expressway that runs from Mindanao Avenue to Republic Avenue turning right to Luzon Avenue up to Commonwealth in Quezon City. Segment 10, meanwhile, is a 5.7-km, four-lane elevated roadway connecting Segment 9 at MacArthur Highway in Valenzuela City to C-3 Road in Caloocan City.
Segment 8.2, meantime, is expected to be completed at a later date.
Right-of-way woes
IN fact, the project was first expected to be completed by December 2016. However, this was pushed back because of difficulties in settling right-of-way issues.
Good thing, in October last year Public Works Secretary Mark A. Villar was able to secure 100-percent right-of-way to private concessionaire NLEX Corp. to finish the Harbor Link mainline from Karuhatan, Valenzuela City, to C-3 Road in Caloocan City.
“This is a product of blood, sweat and tears,” Quimbo shared.
The area, he said, used to be thickly populated and that issues there were peacefully settled, having no demolitions and evictions taking place.
Other new projects
THE P653-million Ciudad de Victoria interchange project, which has three phases, on the other hand, just started this February.
“The new NLEX interchange is regarded as one of the government’s traffic decongestion projects aimed at improving the Bulacan road network, particularly Bocaue, Santa Maria, Pandi, Norzagaray, San Jose del Monte and Marilao, as well as boosting economic activities in nearby communities,” Villar then said.
The first phase of the project—which involves construction of the 1.93-kilometer road by adding two lanes to the existing Bulacan Municipal Road, wherein a bridge will be constructed to cross NLEX to Philippine Arena—is eyed to be completed by October this year, ahead of the opening ceremony of the Southeast Asian Games slated to take place at the said sports center.
Meanwhile, parts of the NLEX were closed to vehicles starting last month to give way for the long-delayed construction of the Skyway Stage 3 that will connect it with the Southern Luzon Expressway.
In a joint collaboration with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, the group is easing traffic congestion with the following alternate routes since NLEX entry from Camachile flyover and Edsa-A. Bonifacio ramp are currently closed:
Cars and vans: Take De Jesus Street to C-3 Road, turn right to Port Area
Trucks: Take Edsa U-turn slot to A. Bonifacio Avenue, turn right to Port Area.
Image credits: Ronald Rey M. de los Reyes