NLEX Connector (North Luzon Expressway Connector), also known as the NLEX–SLEX Connector Road (North Luzon Expressway–South Luzon Expressway Connector), NLEX Connector Road, and NLEX Segment 11 during the planning stages,[3] is a 7.7-kilometer (4.8 mi), four-lane elevated expressway in Metro Manila, Philippines. It connects the NLEX Harbor Link to the Metro Manila Skyway, which connects further to the North and South Luzon Expressways. The highway traverses parallel to the PNR Metro Commuter Line. It has five interchanges, four of which are currently operational. Alongside NLEX Harbor Link, trucks are allowed to use it.[1]
Construction began in 2019, and the connector was partially opened in March 2023.[4] Its remaining section up to Santa Mesa is under construction and expected to be completed by the end of 2024.[1][5][6]
Route description
The 7.70-kilometer (4.78 mi) elevated expressway is divided into two sections: Section 1, spanning 5.15 kilometers (3.20 mi) from Caloocan to España, and Section 2, spanning 2.55 kilometers (1.58 mi) from España to Santa Mesa.[1] The maximum speed limit on the expressway is 80 kilometers per hour (50 mph) for light vehicles, buses, and vans and 60 kilometers per hour (37 mph) for trucks.[7]
Caloocan to España
The expressway starts at Caloocan Interchange in Caloocan, branching from NLEX Harbor Link Segment 10. It slightly curves to the west as it approaches Manila, crossing streets such as Hermosa Street and Solis Street in Tondo. It then curves east, running parallel to Antipolo Street towards Santa Cruz. It then rises as it passes above the Blumentritt LRT station at Rizal Avenue. It then curves to the southeast, crossing Dimasalang Street, entering Sampaloc, and more streets in the district, including España Boulevard, where Section 1 ends.
Past España, Section 2 commences. It crosses above more streets in Sampaloc. It then curves as it crosses Magsaysay Boulevard, its current southern terminus, and beneath the viaduct of LRTA's Line 2 system. It would terminate near the Polytechnic University of the Philippines campus in Santa Mesa, where it will be continued by the Skyway 3–NLEX Connector link of Skyway Stage 3.
The original plan of the project was that the alignment would have passed above the Magsaysay Flyover and the LRT Line 2 (LRT-2). However, due to the right-of-way issues pending on the 1-kilometer (0.62 mi) spur of Skyway Stage 3, the awarding of the construction contract to a Chinese company, and revisions, the alignment would later be modified to include the ramps leading to Magsaysay Boulevard and Santa Mesa. The revisions included the plan for the structures to pass under the LRT-2 viaduct while the Magsaysay Flyover was dismantled during construction.
During the latter part of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's presidency, Metro Pacific Tollways Development Corporation (MPTDC) later offered an unsolicited proposal to build the highway,[11] also known as the NLEX–SLEX Skyway Connector.[12] The feasibility study conducted by JICA was published in 2011.[13] It was originally to run from Circumferential Road 3 in Caloocan to Gil Puyat Avenue in Makati, with a total length of 13 kilometers. However, the southern end was later transferred to Santa Mesa, Manila, as the right-of-way of the Santa Mesa–Buendia alignment is held by Skyway Stage 3 of the rival Citra Central Expressway Corporation (now SMC Skyway Stage 3 Corporation).
In January 2014, a joint venture was signed between Metro Pacific and the Philippine National Construction Corporation (PNCC),[15] and the project was still known as Segment 10.2. However, on July 20 of the following year, NEDA-ICC deferred the approval.[16] The project was re-approved on December 16, 2015, as a public-private partnership (PPP) project.[17] The succeeding administration added the project to the Build! Build! Build! Program.
Manila North Tollways Corporation (MNTC, now NLEX Corporation) secured a ₱23.2-billion deal to build, operate, and maintain the highway on July 25, 2016, and was also awarded the concession later on November 23.[18][19] It is the first PPP project given the go-ahead by the Duterte administration.[20] It was soon known as the NLEX Connector.[21] It is estimated to cost ₱17 billion, but as an "all-elevated" or completely grade-separated structure, right-of-way acquisition shall be reduced to an estimated cost of only ₱2.41 billion. Its construction considers the upcoming parallel construction of the southern segment of the North–South Commuter Railway.
President Rodrigo Duterte presided over the groundbreaking ceremony for the project on February 28, 2019.[22]DMCI undertook the civil works for Section 1,[21] while China Road and Bridge Corporation handled the construction of Section 2.[23] To make way for the planned section, which would traverse below the viaduct of LRTA's Line 2 system, the Magsaysay Flyover along Magsaysay Boulevard was decommissioned in late 2022.[24] The elevated expressway was originally intended to have two interchanges, but during construction, additional ramps in Santa Mesa were included. Section 1 was inaugurated on March 27, 2023, led by President Bongbong Marcos.[25] The expressway was opened toll-free, pending the approval of rates by the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB).
On June 27, 2023, the TRB "provisionally" approved toll rates for Section 1.[26] Toll collection on the expressway later began on August 8.[27]
As of August 2023, the NLEX Connector employs a barrier toll system with a fixed toll rate for motorists. Currently, the España Toll Plaza in Sampaloc, Manila, serves as the toll collection point. Like other NLEX Corporation expressways, Easytrip Services Corporation operates the electronic toll collection (ETC) system that is fully implemented on this expressway, the first in the Philippines.[28][29]
Tolls are charged based on class; it will eventually be based on distance as well, but it has not been implemented yet until further notice.[2][30] Under the law, all toll rates include a 12% value-added tax. As of October 15, 2024, the toll rates are as follows:[29]
N170 (España Boulevard) / Antipolo Street / Piy Margal Street / P. Florentino Street / S.H. Loyola Street / Fajardo Street / Laon Laan Street – Sampaloc
Diamond interchange; former temporary terminus (March–October 2023); southbound on-ramp and northbound off-ramp unopened
^The total length of NLEX Connector varies per source. According to the Department of Public Works and Highways, it is 7.7 kilometers (4.8 mi).[1] Meanwhile, NLEX Corporation and various news outlets state that it is 8 kilometers (5.0 mi), the approximated value.
^The initial 1.8 km (1.1 mi) portion of Section 2 from España to Magsaysay is currently operational,[2] while the remaining 0.75 km (0.47 mi) from Magsaysay to Skyway is currently under construction.
^Katahira & Engineers International (October 29, 1993). Metro Manila Urban Expressway System Study(PDF). Japan International Cooperation Agency (Report). Retrieved July 3, 2023.
