NLEX Connector alters road life

By Paulina Icban

April 26, 2023

Photo sourced from the Department of Public Works and Highways

Just before the influx of people heading to their provinces during the Holy Week, The Caloocan-España section (Section 1) of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) Connector opened to the public on March 29—and for free.

According to NLEX President and General Manager Jose Luigi L. Bautista said at the first Transport Con forum in Pasay City last November, “This project augurs well for the transport industry as we expect trucks to have easier access to trading centers in Central and Northern Luzon without having to squeeze through congested roads in Metro Manila.”

The NLEX Connector has ports of entry and exit at C3 Road and España Boulevard, bridging them together, and five minutes is all it takes to travel from Caloocan to España than the usual 30 minutes or so when traveling through other roads.

Changes

A domino effect is expected to happen now that the creation of the connector has altered the usual road life, especially for those communities living by the ports of entry and exit.

For all its “pros,” “cons” seem to have spurted here and there.

For Issabone Calipay, a resident of Barangay Ugong, Valenzuela, the C-3 road is busier than usual. “Mas dumami yung private [vehicles] na dumadaan ngayon sa C-3 nung nagbukas ‘yon, lalo na ‘pag holidays. Kahit na may Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) lane, napupuno pa rin so kailangan ko talaga mag-adjust ng oras simula nung nagbukas yung connector. Pero sa bungad lang naman ng skyway mostly congested,” she said.

Considering that the connector is toll-free until further notice, Calipay added that a surge of vehicles is to be expected but noted that from Valenzuela to the University Belt, it took around 20 minutes off her usual time when she uses a private car.

“If naka private [car] ka, big help talaga yung skyway. Kaya inaabangan ko talaga yung pag-open ng isa pang section na magcoconnect naman sa PUP. For sure less hassle na for me,” she added.

The second section, which will be connecting España, Manila to the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, is set to open by June.

Still, for now, Calipay shared that she has to make her own commute adjustments after the traffic in the area became busier than usual.

However, a student of the University of Santo Tomas whose daily commute includes traversing the España road, Katrina Ramos said she had to alter her routine to save some time.

“Dati I used to ride jeeps kasi mas mabilis mapuno, sa España daan noon and sakto na akong binababa sa Gate 6. But now I had to opt for e-bus since yung route noon is sa Dapitan. Mas malayo nga lang yung babaan but I had to do it if gusto kong hindi mastuck sa traffic,” she said.

Heavy traffic is still a problem in Dapitan, but she noted that it is somehow lighter compared to España traffic.

Garry Fernandez, a resident of Barangay 527 Maceda Street along España, also noticed a changed traffic pattern along the boulevard. “Mas ma-traffic na talaga. Noong una akala ko kasi nagbabalikan lang galing probinsiya ang mga tao pagtapos ng Holy Week, pero hanggang ngayon ganoon pa rin ‘yong lagay,” he said.

But on the flip side of the coin, Fernandez, also a Grab driver, added the connector is a blessing for its shortened travel time from C-3, Caloocan, and España. He said that if he is booked around these areas, the Skyway is a blessing that allows him faster drop-offs and in effect, more bookings.

Improved mobility

The P23.3-billion NLEX-SLEX Connector Road project will stretch eight kilometers upon completion.

It is an all-elevated four-lane toll expressway extending NLEX southward from the end of Segment 10 in C-3 Road, Caloocan City to Sta. Mesa and connecting to the Skyway Stage 3, along the route of the Philippine National Railways rail line.

During the inauguration of the first 5.15-kilometer section of the North Luzon Expressway-South Luzon Expressway (NLEX-SLEX) Connector Road Project on March 27, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said that this section is poised to ease traffic congestion España Boulevard, Abad Santos Avenue, Rizal Avenue, and Lacson Avenue.

The expected ease of congestion may be chalked up to diversion. Vehicles that mainly traverse the main road prior to the construction of the connector may opt to utilize this road as an alternative route if their destination permits.

The trucking and logistics sectors will also benefit from its 24/7 access to the expressway, unlike in other roads that implemented truck ban policy hours.

Marcos, in his speech, also mentioned that the NLEX Connector will “also contribute to the ease of movement of cargo and goods from north to south and vice versa, especially those coming from the Port of Manila.”

When completed, the project is expected to cut travel time from SLEX-Alabang to NLEX-Balintawak from two hours to 20 minutes and minimize an approximate 3-hour travel time from Clark to Calamba to just less than two hours.

According to the Department of Public Works and Highways, the road project that started in May 2019 will benefit at least 35,000 motorists daily and improve overall mobility in Manila.

This is a private-public partnership between DPWH and project concessionaire NLEX Corporation.