THE Manuel V. Pangilinan (MVP)-led Group will build a P120-billion elevated road from Balintawak in Quezon City to Bocaue, Bulacan, expanding capacity along the heavily congested North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) corridor, President Ferdinand R. Marcos, Jr. said on Thursday.
“We have another piece of good news that was just brought to my attention,” Mr. Marcos said in Filipino during the opening of an NLEX segment in Valenzuela City. “The MVP Group will invest P120 billion to build an elevated road from Balintawak to Bocaue.”
Mr. Marcos said the elevated road would be built above the existing NLEX alignment.
He said the project would require coordination between the MVP Group and San Miguel Corp. (SMC), whose toll road networks connect along the route.
“I asked the MVP Group and the SMC Group to work together so that we can expand road capacity,” he said.
The announcement came as the President led the opening of Segment 8.2 Section 1A of NLEX, a two-kilometer stretch linking Mindanao Avenue in Valenzuela City and Quirino Highway in Quezon City.
Mr. Marcos said travel time through the area would be reduced to about five minutes from 40 to 45 minutes because motorists would no longer need to use surface roads.
“This is very good news for our construction projects that aim to improve traffic flow, shorten travel time, reduce transport costs and make commuting more comfortable for workers,” he said.
The elevated road announcement comes as the government seeks to ease congestion along the northern corridor, which carries commuters and commercial traffic between Metro Manila and nearby provinces.
Mr. Marcos did not provide a construction timetable, target completion date or other details of the proposed P120-billion project.
He said the elevated road would add capacity to the existing highway, with the two business groups expected to coordinate on the investment.
Separately, the newly opened NLEX segment was made available ahead of schedule to accommodate motorists traveling during the All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day holidays.
Mr. Marcos said the government pushed for an earlier opening because of the expected increase in traffic near cemeteries along the route, including Holy Cross Memorial Park.
He said the two-kilometer stretch would allow motorists to bypass surface roads, cutting travel time between Mindanao Avenue and Quirino Highway.
The President also announced that motorists could use the new segment toll-free until the end of the year.
The opening forms part of efforts to improve connectivity across Metro Manila and reduce commuting time. Mr. Marcos said work is continuing on other transport projects, including the Metro Manila Subway.
He said tunneling for the subway had been completed in the area, while support facilities, including equipment and training buildings, were more than 90% complete.
The subway is expected to provide an additional transport option for Filipino commuters. — Erika Mae P. Sinaking