DPWH hopes to start NAIAx-BGC link in 2018

THE Department of Public Works and Highways ( DPWH) is looking to start work on the proposed link between the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Expressway ( NAIAx) and Bonifacio Global City ( BGC) by next year.

“We’re working it to have it done as soon as possible, it will be a big help to alleviate traffic… We want to start it by next year,” Public Works Secretary Mark A. Villar told reporters last week.

San Miguel Corp. earlier last week said its infrastructure arm has submitted to the government its plans to expand the toll roads it operates, including a link between NAIAx and BGC, which can reduce traffic on the Sales Bridge in Pasay City and shorten travel time between the airport area to BGC to 10 minutes.

The conglomerate said it can complete the project in three years, once the government gives its approval for the plans.

“We have to find out the nature of how we will implement it, we will just finalize the details,” Mr. Villar said.

The NAIAx opened last year and is a private-public partnership (PPP) with SMC. It was built to serve around 80,000 travelers daily and to connect the airport terminals from Skyway, CAVITEx (Cavite Expressway) and other major roads. It has 14 off- and on- ramps along key points including Villamor Airbase, Resorts World, Imelda Avenue, and Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard.

SMC has also submitted to the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) other expansion plans for toll roads, including a plan of adding two lanes to the elevated Skyway from Alabang to Sucat, and adding a fifth lane in both the southbound and northbound roads of the South Luzon Expressway (SLEx) to Calamba exit. —