PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. led the final inspection and inauguration of the NLEX-C5 Northlink Segment 8.2 Section 1A on Thursday (October 29), ahead of the expected surge in Undas traffic.
The newly opened 2-kilometer expressway section connects Quirino Highway in Quezon City to the NLEX Mindanao Toll Plaza in Valenzuela City, providing motorists with an additional route to help ease traffic congestion during the holiday rush.
The President was joined during the inspection and inauguration by Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon, Public Works Secretary Giovanni Lopez, DOTr Senior Undersecretary Mark Steven Pastor, TRB Executive Director Jayart Tugade, MPTC President and CEO Gilbert Santa Maria, NLEX Corporation President and General Manager Luis Reñon, Valenzuela City Mayor Wes Gatchalian, Valenzuela City 1st District Representative Kenneth Gatchalian, and Quezon City 6th District Representative Marivic Co-Pilar.
The newly opened section is expected to help ease congestion along Mindanao Avenue and Quirino Highway while improving travel time, safety, and convenience, especially during peak travel period, such as Undas.
Motorists from Quirino Highway can now directly access the NLEX Connector for trips to Manila, the University Belt, and nearby cities, providing an alternative route to EDSA. Those heading north can use the new section to reach the NLEX Mindanao Toll Plaza and access the NLEX mainline toward Central Luzon, with connections to the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) for onward travel to Northern Luzon. The section is expected to serve approximately 11,000 vehicles daily.
Operating 24/7 and accommodating all vehicle classes, the new section will facilitate the movement of people and goods and support transport logistics and economic activity.
Section 1A is part of the 11.3-kilometer NLEX-C5 Northlink Segment 8.2 project, which extends from Mindanao Avenue to C5/C.P. Garcia near Katipunan Avenue. Once completed, the project will further improve connectivity between northern and southern Luzon via the eastern side of Metro Manila.
The NLEX-C5 Northlink is a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) project with the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) serving as government grantor, and NLEX Corporation, a subsidiary of Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC), acting as the private concessionaire. (UnliNews Online)
