NLEX opens Malabon Exit of Harbor Link next week

MANILA, Philippines — Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) unit NLEX Corp. is set to open next week the Malabon Exit of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) Harbor Link C3-R10 Section along Dagat-Dagatan Avenue which will help in the decongestion of traffic in Metro Manila.

Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar said the NLEX Harbor Link Malabon Exit will officially open next Friday following a final inspection yesterday of the C3 to Dagat-Dagatan segment, which will serve as an alternate corridor for motorists bound for the port area from NLEX.

“Given the final inspection, we are announcing the full opening on Feb. 21. I’ve instructed MPTC to finish this within the next seven days so we can expect by Feb. 21 this can be fully used,” Villar said.

“This inspection is in preparation for the opening of the C3 to Dagat-Dagatan portion, which is about 1.2 kilometers. We are making sure that all the safety features of the expressway are in place before we open it to the public,” he said.

Villar said the 1.2-km section would be free for motorists for at least one month, afterwhich an additional P2 toll will be charged.

The entire 2.6-km C3-R10 Section is targeted to be operational by end-March, according to Villar.

The NLEX Harbor Link C3-R10 Section starts from Caloocan Interchange, C3 Road, Caloocan City to Radial Road 10, Navotas City, connecting to the previously opened 5.65-kilometer NLEX Harbor Link Segment 10 that passes through Karuhatan, Valenzuela City, Governor Pascual Avenue in Malabon City, and 5th Avenue/C3 Road, Caloocan City.

It is expected to reduce travel time from Port Area to NLEX to just 10 minutes and is being eyed to provide direct access for commercial vehicles, especially heavy trucks.

“We are anticipating that truckers and freight forwarders will greatly benefit from this new road since their cargo trucks will have 24/7 access, and in turn translate to faster delivery of goods to and from the provinces in North and Central Luzon,” NLEX chief operating officer Raul Ignacio said.

The NLEX Harbor Link is seen to ease traffic congestion and drive commerce between the harbor area and Central and North Luzon.