Motorists laud NLEX Connector in improving mobility

MANILA: Since its opening in March, the NLEX Connector Caloocan-España section has served more than 80,000 motorists, who mostly cite the shorter travel time — from 30 to only five minutes — between C3 Road in Caloocan City and España in Manila.

The new five-kilometer expressway, which is toll-free for a limited time, has given motorists an alternative route and made it easier to transport people and products from north to south and vice versa. Furthermore, the new tollway is anticipated to increase business opportunities in the areas that it passes through.

“[I> tried the newly opened NLEX Connector and I felt very happy. My Manila emergency calls won’t be that stressful anymore,” Dr. Norman Galaxy Cabigas tweeted.

Kevin De Jesus, a university professor, recognized the shorter travel times, saying, “30 minutes na lang ang biyahe from Punturin, Valenzuela City to FEU (It now takes only 30 minutes to travel from Punturin, Valenzuela City to FEU).”

Angel Castillo, an office employee from Bulacan, also experiences faster travel, saying, “Ang daan ko pa noon patungong Rizal Avenue, Manila ay Balintawak, kaya medyo ma-traffic. Noong nagawa ang NLEX Connector, wala pang 20 minutes nasa Manila na ako kaya malaking tulong ito para sa aming mga motorista (Before, to get to Rizal Avenue, Manila, I was passing along Balintawak, so there was quite a bit of traffic. When the NLEX Connector was opened, I am able to get to Manila in less than 20 minutes so this is a big help for us motorists).”

In a Facebook post, human resources executive Jennevie Ocampo shared her experience with the NLEX Connector. “I am a frequent user of expressways because I accompany my eldest to UST before I go to work. Normal travel time is 55 minutes via Skyway. With this Connector, it only took me 30 minutes going to work,” she stated.

NLEX Corporation President J. Luigi Bautista is delighted with the positive feedback posted by the public on social media, saying, “The comments we received from the motorists only prove that indeed NLEX Connector has been serving its purpose of increasing productivity as it helps ease the travel of motorists and commuters.”

NLEX Corporation established this new elevated road in support of the government's initiative to speed up economic activity by implementing infrastructure projects. The NLEX Connector aims to give faster and easier access to the University Belt and its surrounding areas and lessen traffic along España Boulevard, Abad Santos Avenue, Rizal Avenue, and Lacson Avenue in Manila.

According to Bautista, the opening of this expressway has made it easier for residents of the North to commute to Metro Manila for work or school. He also stated that NLEX Corporation continues to work with relevant agencies to improve traffic management and policies on nearby local roads.

“The Metro Manila Council as well as the local governments of Manila and Caloocan have been supportive of our initiatives to alleviate the traffic in and out of the expressway system. We continue to work together to improve congested roads,” he said.

The next three kilometers of the NLEX Connector from España to Sta. Mesa are being constructed at a faster pace. The section now has a 46% construction progress.

The operational España Section is located between the Caloocan Interchange on C3 Road and España Blvd. The Sta. Mesa Section, on the other hand, crosses España Blvd. to R. Magsaysay Blvd and continues up to the area of Polytechnic University of the (PUP) at Sta. Mesa, Manila. It will have on- and off-ramps in Magsaysay and Sta. Mesa.

Photo from NLEX Corporation

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