MNTC ready to open new segment in NLEX

Metro Pacific- led Manila North Tollways Corp. (MNTC) is only waiting for the go signal of the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) to open the newly constructed segment of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) this week.

MNTC president Rodrigo Franco said they are targeting this Wednesday a soft opening of NLEX Segment 9, which connects NLEX to MacArthur Highway in Valenzuela, giving motorists another entry point to the expressway besides Balintawak and Mindanao Avenue.

However, Franco admitted that the opening of the 2.42-kilometer, four-lane NLEX Segment 9 depends on the issuance of toll operations permit from the TRB.

“We have to wait for the permit. Without it, we will not open,” Franco said.

As of press time, neither TRB executive director Edmund Reyes nor spokesperson Julius Corpuz confirmed if a toll operations permit could be issued to MNTC by Wednesday.

According to MNTC, construction of NLEX Segment 9 is 95 percent finished. Once the NLEX Segment 9 is opened, MNTC will charge motorists 45 toll for Class 1 vehicles such as cars and jeepneys, 144 for Class 2 vehicles such as buses and trucks, and P136 for Class 3 vehicles such as trucks with more than two axles. MNTC is projecting an average daily traffic of 27,000 vehicles for Segment 9 during its first year of operation.

Passing through NLEX Segment 9 will be particularly convenient for trucks going to the Caloocan-MalabonNavotas-Valenzuela area from NLEX as truckers could proceed to Segment 9 towards MacArthur Highway instead of exiting at Valenzuela Interchange and pass through the heavily congested Maysan Road.

Meanwhile, trucks going further to the Port Area in Manila can proceed to Monumento in Caloocan instead of exiting via Balintawak and going through Epifanio de los Santos Avenue.

Segment 9 links to Segment 10, which form part of the semi-elevated NLEX Harbor Link that directly links NLEX to Port Area. Once fully constructed next year, Segment 10 will cater primarily to northbound port traffic.

Construction of NLEX Segment 9 costs 1.70 billion while right of way acquisition cost 2.5 billion. Meanwhile, construction of NLEX Segment 10.1, a 5.65-kilometer four-lane elevated expressway connecting MacArthur Highway and C3 Road, costs 8.90 billion, apart from a 2.20 billion cost for right of way acquisition. Finally, construction of Segment 10.2, a 8-kilometer four-lane elevated expressway extending Segment 10.1 to Sta. Mesa, Manila, costs 12.88 billion while the right of way acquisition will cost 1.95 billion