The public works and highways department of the government is now focusing on the solution to the truck ban through the eight-kilometer NLEX-SLEX Connector.
An estimate of 30,000 vehicles which mainly include trucks are expected to benefit from the project which will have a full 24-hour operation.
“‘Pag natapos po itong connector, lalong luluwag ang EDSA kasi lahat ng trucks na galing sa Port magkakaroon ng option na mag-NLEX or mag-SLEX. At the same time, magkakaroon din ng exit sa Espaῆa (EDSA will be less congested because all trucks from the Port will have the option to use NLEX or SLEX once the connector is completed. At the same time, there will be an exit in Espaῆa),” DPWH Sec. Mark Villar explained.
Villar conducted an inspection on Wednesday on the construction site of the project in Caloocan City. From NLEX Harbor Link in C-3 in Caloocan, a connector will be built going to Skyway Stage 3, passing through Abad Santos, Blumentritt, Dimasalang, Espaῆa, and Magsaysay Blvd.
The NLEX-SLEX Connector will have three exits in Sta. Mesa, Espaῆa, and C-3. The first phase of the project from C-3 to Espaῆa is expected to be completed by December 2021. However, some stations of the Philippine National Railways (PNR) will be affected.
“Ang gagawin namin doon, bumili na kami with DPWH steel temporary stations. So gigibain mga concrete stations namin, papalitan ng steel stations (What we did was to buy with DPWH some steel temporary stations. We will demolish concrete stations which will be replaced with steel stations),” PNR GM Junn Magno said. – Report from Karen Villanda