MNTC ready to start NLEx Harbour Link

“We want to start construction because we want to take advantage of the good weather. If we have the TRB approval we could have started already,” he said.

The NLEx Harbour Link is divided into two phases. The first phase worth P1.59 billion involves the construction of the 2.42-km Segment 9 linking the 86.7-kilometer NLEx to the MacArthur Highway in Valenzuela City to be completed next month, while the second phase covers the construction of the P10.6-billion 5.65-km Segment 10 from Valenzuela City all the way to C3 in Caloocan City.

Under the original plan, Segment 10 was supposed to end at the R10 Road in Tondo. However, the project was designed to end in C3 after the company believed that the existing R10 Road was enough to handle the existing volume of vehicles.

The P5-billion investment would be used to build the additional two to three kilometers extending Segment 10 all the way to R10 in Tondo.

MNTC is also waiting for the green light from the TRB to pursue the P5-billion project to expand portions of NLEx with the construction of additional lanes.

Franco earlier said the P650-million project for the integration of NLEx and the 94-km Subic-Clark Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx) is expected to start next month with the signing of an agreement with the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) last Feb. 5.

He pointed out that the company is looking for a contractor to undertake the civil works for the NLEx-SCTEx integration project to be completed before the end of the year.

The tollways arm of infrastructure giant Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) is ready to start the construction of the P5-billion road that would further extend the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) Harbour Link from Circumferential Road (C3) in Caloocan City all the way to Road 10 (R10) in Tondo, Manila.

Rodrigo Franco, president and chief executive officer of MPIC’s Manila North Tollways Corp. (MNTC), said the company is just waiting for the green light from the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB).

MNTC bagged the SCTEX concession after no counter proposals were submitted during the “price challenge” conducted by the BCDA last Jan. 30.

Senate President Franklin Drilon pushed for the integration collection systems of both toll roads after he got stuck in heavy traffic for 11 hours when he went to Baguio City last Dec. 26.