OFFICIALS OF the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) Corp. on Wednesday said they are looking for the completion of the first five-kilometer section of NLEX Connector from Caloocan Interchange, C3 to España, Manila by yearend.
During the inspection of the project, DPWH Secretary Mark Villar and NLEX Corp. president and general manager J. Luigi Bautista said they are fast-tracking the construction of the project worth PHP23 billion.
Villar said the right-of-way delivery for the whole alignment stands at 81 percent, while construction progress is at 16 percent.
“With the commitment of both the public and private sectors, we are optimistic that we can finish the project as scheduled,” he added.
Bautista said Super T girders will be used for the project. The girders with span 30 meters and weigh 53 tons are innovative, pre-stressed box that are widely used for bridges in Australia and New Zealand but relatively new in the Philippine construction industry.
Compared to other types of girders, Super T beams are more flexible, structurally efficient, and aesthetically appealing. They have open flanges that provide a complete working surface and reduce the need for formworks thus help fast-track the construction of the elevated expressway.
“Innovation is one of the core values of our company. We are using Super T beams to advance our construction progress so we can soon complete this crucial infrastructure that would help decongest Metro Manila and solve truck ban woes,” Bautista said.
Over 1,400 girders will be used for the entire Connector project. The structural format of a Super T provides an optimal solution to particular challenges posed by the Connector project, which passes through urbanized areas where the roads are already congested, and the right-of-way is constrained laterally.
Spanning a total of eight kilometers, the full NLEX Connector will be an all- vehicle class elevated expressway that will traverse the C3 Road in Caloocan City pass through Abad Santos, Blumentritt, Dimasalang, España, Magsaysay Boulevard and eventually connect with the Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3 at the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, Sta. Mesa in Manila.
The NLEX Connector will feature four toll plazas and interchanges in C3 and España. It is seen to provide better access to Manila Ports (North Harbor) and airports (NAIA and Clark), and expected to reduce travel time between NLEX and South Luzon Expressway from two hours to just 20 minutes.
The project will also provide trucks with 24/7 alternative route, enabling unhampered delivery of goods and stimulating economic development in Manila, Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, and surrounding areas. (By Ferdinand Patinio)
