Cavitex Infra commences works on 2 new segments of CAVITEx-C5 link Expressway

Cavitex Infrastructure Corporation (CIC), the concessionaire of the Manila-Cavite Expressway (CAVITEx), and the Philippine Reclamation Authority (PRA) are starting the construction of two new segments of the CAVITEx-C5 Link Expressway.

This, after CIC signed a contract with the consortium of A.M. Oreta & Company Inc. and China Harbour Engineering Company Ltd. for the construction of Segment 2 and Segment 3A-2 on Thursday.

Meanwhile, DCCD Engineering Corporation, KE Asia, Inc. and Ove Arup and Partners Hongkong LTD (Philippine Branch) have been tapped as project consultants.

The construction agreement was signed by CIC president and general manager Roberto Bontia, Metro Pacific Tollway Corp. (MPTC) chief finance officer Christopher Lizo, China Harbour country manager Xiarun Chu, AM Oreta authorized managing officer Artemio Santos, and Ove Arup managing director Raul Manlapig.

In a virtual press conference, Bontia said the project cost of Segment 2 is around P7 billion while Segment 3A-2 is about P1.8 billion. Meanwhile, the entire Cavitex-C5 Link Expressway costs P15 billion.

The project is a 7.70-kilometer dual three-lane expressway that runs from R-1 Parañaque Toll Plaza to C-5 Road in Taguig.

On the other hand, the Segment 2 of the project is a 1.9-kilometer, 2x3 lane expressway that will run from R-1 Expressway to Sucat Interchange, while Segment 3A-2 is a 1.6-kilometer, 2x3 lane expressway that will run from Merville to RSG Subdivision in Parañaque.

The two segments are eyed for completion by the second quarter of 2022.

Upon completion, Segments 2 and 3A-2 are expected to reduce travel time to Makati and Taguig cities from Parañaque City, Las Pinas City, and Cavite province by 30 minutes, and play a huge role in economic development.

Public Works Secretary Mark Villar said the two segments will decongest EDSA and Sales Road in Pasay City by about 50,000 vehicles per day, and connect major business districts in Taguig and Makati to Parañaque, Las Pinas, and Cavite.

“Continuing with BBB (Build, Build, Build) activities will help spur economic growth to get us back on track from the effects of the pandemic,” Villar said.

Bontia said that Segments 2 and 3A-2 of CAVITEx-C5 Link Expressway will help provide fast, safe and efficient movement of people and goods, and create at least 1,000 new jobs in construction, operations and maintenance.

CIC is a subsidiary of MPTC, the tollways arm of infrastructure holdings conglomerate, Metro Pacific Investments Corporation. 

Aside from the CAVITEx, CAVITEx-C5 Link Expressway and the Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAx), MPTC’s portfolio includes the concessions for the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx), the Subic-Clark Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx), the NLEx Connector Road, and the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEx) in Cebu. --KBK, GMA News