CALAX Subsection 5 in Laguna now 89% complete

MANILA: Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark A. Villar, along with MPCALA Holdings, Inc. executives, did an ocular inspection earlier today of the construction development of the Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX) Subsection 5 (Santa Rosa, Laguna to Silang, Cavite), which is expected to cater to 5,000 vehicles per day upon its opening by the third quarter of 2021.

Among those who joined Sec. Villar during the ocular inspection were DPWH PP Services Director Alex Bote; MPCALA VP for Tollways Development Engr. Art Monge; “Build, Build, Build” (BBB) Committee Chair Ana Mae Lamentillo; Municipality of Silang, Cavite Mayor Corrie Poblete; and Silang Vice Mayor Aidel Paul Belamide.

MPCALA Holdings, Inc. (MHI) is a subsidiary of Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC). For the construction of the new CALAX Subsection 5 Laguna Segment, its progress is already at 89%.

Sec. Villar explained, “As travel restrictions are slowly but surely being lifted, this new subsection of CALAX will help accelerate economic progress in Laguna and Cavite by providing interconnection between the two provinces of Region 4-A. This segment is crucial since it is expected to serve almost 5,000 cars per day, and will ease traffic along Governor’s Drive, Aguinaldo Highway, and Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay Road once opened. Right-of-way acquisition has been a challenge, so we are giving our full effort to deliver and eventually open with as little deviation to the original timeline as possible. The completed and operational segments namely Mamplasan to Santa Rosa are currently servicing about 10,000 vehicles daily. We target to finish the whole 45-kilometer stretch of CALAX and serve 50,000 cars before 2022 ends.”

Subsection 5 consists of a 7.2-kilometer stretch from Santa Rosa-Tagaytay Interchange to Silang East Interchange. The ongoing works include infrastructure of Silang (Aguinaldo) Interchange, sound barriers and road furniture, drainage works, and pavement and bridge deck construction.

MPCALA President and General Manager Roberto V. Bontia expressed, “With the combined efforts of DPWH and MHI we are optimistic and excited to open the new Subsection 5, hence as soon as right of way is handed over to us, we double construction efforts to avoid any unnecessary delay, while ensuring safety in the workplace.”

Meanwhile, the construction of Subsection 4, which is from Silang (Aguinaldo) Interchange to Silang East Interchange, is another simultaneous enhanced initiative. Subection 4, which has currently attained 14% construction progress, is scheduled for completion by the first quarter of 2022.

Furthermore, Bontia explained that MPCALA strictly complies with the DPWH and COVID-19 Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) health guidelines to guarantee the protection and safety of its workers from viral transmission.

Once completed, this P24.2B, four-lane expressway is expected to link the Manilla-Cavite Expressway (CAVITEX) in Kawit, Cavite to the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) at Greenfield (Mamplasan) Interchange in Biñan, Laguna.

CALAX, which is 45 kilometers long, comprises eight interchanges commencing at Kawit, Governor’s Drive, Open Canal, Silang (Aguinaldo) Highway, Silang East, Santa Rosa-Tagaytay, Laguna Boulevard, and Laguna Technopark.

CALAX is expected to decongest traffic from the current national road network in Cavite and Laguna, specifically at Santa Rosa-Tagaytay Road, Aguinaldo Highway, and Governor's Drive. It is also expected to cut travel time by 45 minutes from Cavite and Laguna areas to Metro Manila and vice versa.

Moreover, CALAX aims to enhance competitiveness of the Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon (CALABARZON) region as a venue for investment.

MPTC carries the concession rights for the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX) in Cebu, Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), NLEX Connector Road, C-5 Link Expressway, CAVITEX, and CALAX. 

Photos from Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC)

Also read: CIC-MPTC eyes completion of Cavite-C5 Link new segments by Q2 2022