Phase 1 of 110-B C5 South Link Expressway proceeding on schedule

The first section of the 110-bIllion, 7.7-kilometer, six-lane expressway project of the Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway (CAVITEX) is progressing on time and will be delivered in March, 2019.

Department of Public Works & Highways Secretary Mark Villar, along with Philippine Reclamation Authority GM Jan Rubiato and Toll Regulatory Board Director Abe Sales yesterday jointly inspected the C5 South Link Expressway Construction after the first set of girders of the main bridge were installed.

This main bridge crosses on top of the PNR station by the Skyway at grade between Nichols Toll Plaza and Bicutan and is part of the first section of the 7.7 kilometer, six-lane expressway project of the Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway (CAVITEX) set to be delivered on Q1 of 2019.

“The project is progressing on time and this is good news to the estimated 50,000 vehicles that will be decongested in Sales Road in Pasay and EDSA when it starts commercial operations," Secretary Villar remarked.

Travel time from Parañaque, Las Piñas and Cavite to Taguig will be cut to 20 to 30 minutes from the usual 1 and a half hour drive with the direct access to C5.

"This is an important project which is part of the Build Build Build program of this government,” he added.

When completed, the 110 Billion project will provide motorists from Parañaque, Las Piñas and Cavite direct access to C5.

“We have launched girders starting last October 6 across PNR area, and we are set to launch long span steel girders that will cross the at grade portion of Skyway and South Luzon Expressway in the coming days," explained Luigi Bautista, President and CEO of the Cavitex Infrastructure Corporation (CIC), the concessionaire of CAVITEX.

"This is a critical activity of the project and we expect substantial completion after the girders are installed,” he pointed out.

"We would like to seek the understanding and patience of all motorists, for the temporary inconvenience," according to Bautista.

"In cooperation with SOMCO partial closures of Skyway and Skyway at grade during off-peak hours is implemented. This is necessary when we position and install the girders. We are also working closely with MMDA, DOTR, DPWH and the Taguig, Pasay and Parañaque LGUs on the traffic management."

The completion of the launching should allow us to complete and open the Merville section of C5 South Link by the end of March of 2019,” he added .

CAVITEX is a subsidiary of Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC).

Aside from the CAVITEX, MPTC operates the North Luzon Expressway, the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway, and is currently constructing the Cavite-Laguna Expressway, the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway and soon, the Connector Road.