New Luzon toll roads completed in 10 years

By George Trillo

SAN FERNANDO CITY, Pampanga— It will take approximately 10 years for new toll roads in Northern Luzon to be completed.

“The toll roads will pave the way for easier travel of goods to and from Cordillera, Cagayan Valley, Nueva Ecija, and Aurora which are known food baskets of the country as well as attract more tourists to visit Northern Philippines’ picturesque spots such as the beaches of Ilocos Region and Zambales,” the Central Luzon Regional Development Council said.

These include the 88.58-km Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX), and the 63.9-km Central Luzon Link Expressway (CLLEX) to be integrated with existing expressways, the Central Luzon Regional Development Council said.

In a statement, RDC-Central Luzon (Region 3) said initial operation of the P11.594 billion TPLEX will be on March 2012 for the Tarlac-Carmen section, April 2012 for the Carmen-Urdaneta section, and October 2014 for the Urdaneta-Rosario section.

The TPLEX project is divided into two phases: Phase 1 is the construction of two-lanes and Phase 2 is the expansion into four-lanes when capacity reaches 25,000 vehicles per day.

Moreover, Phase 1 of the P34 billion CLLEX is due for completion by 2016 while Phase 2A opens in 2017 and Phase 2B in 2021.

The 28-km first phase starts in Tarlac City and ends in Cabanatuan City whereas the 35.9-kilometer second phase commences in Cabanatuan City and concludes in San Jose City.

“The construction of TPLEX and CLLEX will physically integrate all the regions north of Metro Manila through a reliable and dependable network of toll roads which also include the Subic-Clark-Tarlac and North Luzon expressways,” the RDC said.