MNTC inks contract for NLEX-SLEX connection

MANILA, Philippines - Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) unit Manila North Tollways Corp. (MNTC) has signed the concession agreement with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for the eight-kilometer (km) North Luzon Expressway – South Luzon Expressway (NLEX-SLEX) Connector Road.

MNTC president and CEO Rodrigo Franco said in a text message the concession agreement was signed on Wednesday.

Metro Pacific Tollways Development Corp. (MPTDC) bagged the project in July after no other comparative offers were submitted during the Swiss challenge conducted by the DPWH.

A Swiss challenge was conducted as the project is an unsolicited proposal from MPTDC.

MPTDC has designated subsidiary MNTC as the project company for the connector road.

The project involves the design, financing, construction, as well as handling operations and maintenance of the elevated toll expressway over the right of way of the Philippine National Railways starting at the junction of the NLEX Segment 10 at C-3 Road/5th Avenue in Caloocan City, and connecting to the SLEX through the Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3 Project in Manila.

Through the project, travel time between NLEX and SLEX would be cut to just 15 to 20 minutes from 1.5 to two hours at present.

The project is also seen to help decongest traffic in Metro Manila.

Franco said government would need to deliver the right of way before construction of the project could start.

“Maybe we’ll start (construction) early 2018,” he said.

He said earlier MNTC has hired Snowy Mountains Engineering Corp. as consultant to come up with the detailed engineering design of the project.

MPIC is currently the largest toll operator in the Philippines as it accounts for 60 percent of the total 320 km of toll roads.