MPTC to spend P4 B for SCTEx-NLEX expansion projects

MANILA, Philippines — Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) is investing P4 billion for road improvement and widening projects along the Subic–Clark–Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx) and North Luzon Expressway(NLEX).

In an interview, MPTC president and CEO Rodrigo Franco told reporters the company is investing P2 billion for expansion efforts in the SCTEx and NLEX.

“We will build a Bambam interchange for the New Clark City,” Franco said.

“There are other improvement project in Clark-North, Clark-South  and in Luisita and Tarlac. All of those are interchanges and toll plazas. Those will be undergoing expansion and improvement,” he said.

Franco said all of the projects are expected to be completed next year, with a number of projects already underway.

“Some are ongoing including the connection between NLEX and SCTEx,” Franco said.

Meanwhile, Franco said the company is spending another P2 billion to double the capacity of the 8-km Subic-Tipo Road by widening into into two lanes. “Right now it’s just one by one lane,” Franco said.

He said the project would commence before the end of the year and is expected to be completed around the third quarter of next year.

Franco earlier said the company is hoping for the Toll Regulatory Board’s approval of its toll hike petition, pointing out that its rejection could impair the company’s ability to implement road improvement projects.

 “We spend billions in additional investments for improvements, widening and anti-congestion measures,” Franco said.

 “Sooner or later, our ability to fund those investments will be affected if we will not be able to adjust (toll). It’s been six years since the last toll adjustment was implemented,” Franco said.

MPTC previously filed petitions for toll rate increases for NLEX in 2013, 2015 and this year. However, the TRB has not acted on it.

The company said it continues to implement several expansion and enhancement projects for the three expressways.

Among these are the construction of new toll lanes in four toll plazas in Pampanga aimed at matching the rapid pace of the province’s traffic growth. Among the toll plazas are the San Fernando (southbound entry and exit), Mexico and Angeles.

“Two more toll lanes at the San Fernando southbound exit and one additional toll lane at the southbound entry are in the works to accommodate the increasing traffic volume. The Angeles toll plaza will be augmented with two entry lanes and one exit lane, while another toll lane will be built at the Mexico northbound exit,” the company earlier said.

Additional lanes will likewise be constructed at the connecting ramps of NLEX and SCTEx in Mabalacat City.

Moreover, the Cavitex Infrastructure Corp. is also set to fully open the Marina left-turning flyover to pave the way for smoother traffic flow and eliminate the existing traffic lights.

All these enhancements are expected to be completed by the end of this year.