CALAX right-of-way delivered by yearend

MANILA, Philippines — The government plans to deliver by yearend substantial right-of-way to Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) subsidiary MPCALA Holdings Inc. for the Cavite segment of the Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX), as the first three sections of the expressway’s Laguna portion is poised to open by the end of the month.

Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar said the target is to bring right-of-way delivery to 70 percent by the end of the year for the Cavite segment of CALAX from the current 40 percent.

“Acquisition of right-of-way is ongoing. At this point, the Cavite portion is 40 percent. Laguna is complete already. That is workable. We have permit to enter. Not necessarily we have the possession, but we have permit to enter,” Villar said.  

MPTC earlier said the ideal level of right-of-way delivery to commence actual heightened work of a project is at 70 percent.

CALAX is designed to be a four-lane, 45.3-kilometer tolled expressway that will connect Manila-Cavite Expressway (CAVITEX) in Kawit to South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) at the Mamplasan Interchange in Binan Laguna.

The project will have interchanges in eight locations, namely: Kawit, Daang Hari, Governor’s Drive, Aguinaldo Highway, Silang, Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay, Laguna Blvd., Technopark, and a Toll Barrier before SLEX.

The project’s Cavite segment spans 27.2 kms, while the Laguna portion covers 18.1 kms.

Villar said the target is to open the first 10 kms of the Laguna segment by the end of the month.

The first sections start at the Mamplasan Barrier and passes through Laguna Technopark Interchange, Laguna Boulevard Interchange all the way to Santa Rosa-Tagaytay Interchange.

“This first three sections, from Mamplasan to Sta. Rosa, when opened will spur growth in trade and tourism in Laguna and Cavite. Approximately 10,000 cars are expected to use these sections. The opening of these sections should ease traffic along Governor’s Drive, Aguinaldo Highway, and Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay Road,” Villar said.

Meanwhile, completion of the full 45-km CALAX is expected by the second quarter of 2022.

Once fully completed, Villar said travel time from Laguna and Cavite will be cut by more than half from the usual two hours to less than one hour.

“We are working with the Department of Public Works and Highways to complete the full 45 kilometers by the second quarter of 2022. CALAX is designed to be a four-lane,  tolled expressway that will connect CAVITEX in Kawit to SLEX at their Mamplasan Interchange in Binan, Laguna,” MPCALA president Bobby Bontia said.

“It will also showcase technologically advance features such as Automatic License Plate Recognition System enabling barrier-less entry to CALAX, IP Based Speed Detection Cameras strategically installed, and High Definition CCTV cameras to cover the entire stretch of the expressway to ensure safe and efficient travel by the motorists,” he said.

Last January, MPCALA signed a P24.2 billion loan from a consortium of local banks for the funding requirements for the construction of the CALAX project.

Aside from CALAX, MPTC’s domestic portfolio includes the concessions of North Luzon Expressway, the Subic-Clark Tarlac Expressway, CAVITEX, the NLEX Connector Road, and the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway in Cebu.