New NLEX lanes seen easing Metro congestion

The new R2.5-billion North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) projects, including the 64 new lane-kilometers between the Bulacan and Pampanga portions of the expressway support the government’s efforts to decongest Metro Manila, NLEX Corporation President and CEO Rodrigo E. Franco announced.

The new expressway lanes from Sta. Rita, Guiguinto, Bulacan to San Fernando City, Pampanga which opened in March this year, meant to help improve travel convenience and boost local businesses in Central Luzon.

NLEX Corporation also upgraded the 5-km Candaba Viaduct by adding new third lanes and building new emergency stopping areas on both directions.

New 2x2, 8 expressway lane kilometers in Mabalacat City include two new bridges in barangays Balem and Quitanguil which were opened in December 2016 to segregate northbound and southbound motorists along separate carriageways and improve road safety.

Furthermore, the new projects improve public service for motorists commuting between Clark International Airport and the future Clark Green City, the 9,459-hectare master planned metropolis located inside the Clark Special Economic Zone (CSEZ).

“Road improvements leading to Clark complement our goal of making the city more accessible and attractive to tourists and investors alike,” Franco added. “These will help strengthen Central Luzon's position as the country's newest growth hub.”

Aside from the new expressway lanes project, the tollways firm this year opened additional toll lanes in the Balintawak, Mindanao, and Meycauayan toll plazas to improve the tollway system throughput for motorists traveling between Metro Manila and the provinces in Central and Northern Luzon.

Additional traffic decongestion exits going to the cities of Meycauayan and Valenzuela were also opened to the motoring public recently.