Opening of NLEx Harbor Link Malabon exit eyed next week —Villar

The Malabon exit of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) Harbor Link C3-R10 section along Dagat-Dagatan Avenue is seen to open on February 21 as construction works are being fast-tracked, Public Works Secretary Mark Villar said Friday.

Villar, along with NLEX Corp. officials, conducted a final inspection of the C3 to Dagat-Dagatan segment — which will serve as an alternate corridor for motorists bound for the port area from NLEx.

“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,” Villar said, noting that the entire 2.6-km C3-R10 Section will be operational by March 2020.

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.

The project 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 Corp. chief operating officer Raul Ignacio said.

Part of the Duterte administration’s “Build Build Build” infrastructure program, the NLEx Harbor Link is seen to ease traffic congestion and drive commerce between the Harbor area and Central and North Luzon areas.

It is intended to advance transport logistics and provide an alternative route for motorists, bypassing EDSA and other busy streets of Manila. —KBK, GMA News