TRB: NALEx, SALEx construction slated for 2025

The construction of San Miguel Corp.’s (SMC) Northern Access Link Expressway (NALEx) and Southern Access Link Expressway (SALEx) is targeted to start next year, according to the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB).

TRB Executive Director Alvin Carullo, in an interview with reporters last week, said the Ramon Ang-led company was in the process of completing the final engineering designs for the tollway projects.

“By next year, by first quarter, we intend to submit to the board for approval,” he said. Following the approval, a notice to proceed with the project would be issued, Carullo added.

The P148.30-billion NALEx, which has two phases, is the first component of the Greater Capital Region Integrated Expressways Network.

Expansion

Phase 1 will provide connectivity among Metro Manila, the New Manila International Airport and Central Luzon while phase 2 is an expansion from Pampanga to Tarlac City.

The P152.39-billion SALEx, meanwhile, is the second component of the Greater Capital Region Integrated Expressways Network. It is an elevated expressway comprising of the Shoreline Expressway and Metro Manila Skyway.

As these developed, the industry giant is also working on realizing its Pasig River Expressway (PAREx) project, which has been criticized due to concerns over its potential adverse impact on the environment.

The PAREx project is a sixlane expressway passing through the Pasig River from Radial Road 10 in Manila and the proposed South East Metro Manila Expressway at Circumferential Road 6.

Project redesign

Carullo said SMC was in the process of redesigning the project, since the toll road’s alignment overlaps with the Pasig River Esplanade.

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The government inaugurated in June a portion of the esplanade, which includes a walkway with leasable commercial spaces and a bike lane.

SMC’s toll road portfolio currently includes the South Luzon Expressway, Skyway Stages 1, 2 and 3, Southern Tagalog Arterial Road, Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway, Naia Expressway and Alabang South Skyway Extension.

In a separate development, the operator of North Luzon Expressway said it was on track to fully open the Candaba 3rd Viaduct next month.

The 5-kilometer toll road, which links Apalit, Pampanga and Pulilan, Bulacan, is being built between the two existing viaducts, expanding road capacity.