North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) Corporation is going full blast with the capacity expansion of the 8.2-kilometer Subic Freeport Expressway (SFEX) aimed at improving traffic safety and easing travel time to and from the Subic Bay Freeport Zone which will also speed-up commerce in this rising center of growth of Central Luzon.
Signaling the start of the said milestone project is a groundbreaking ceremony held at Barangay Tipo in Hermosa, Bataan on Thursday led by NLEX Corporation President and General Manager J. Luigi L. Bautista, Subic Bay Metropolitan Authority (SBMA) Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma, Zambales 1st District Representative Jeffrey Konghun, Board Member Reinhard Jeresano, Hermosa, Bataan Mayor Antonio Joseph Inton, and Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) Executive Director Abraham Sales.
The project is coincided with the tree planting along the side-strech of the 8.2-kilometer SFEX led by from L-R, Zambales Board Member Reinhard Jeresano, NLEX COO Raul Ignacio, Hermosa Bataan Mayor Jopet Inton, SBMA Chair Amy Eisma, NLEX Pres Luigi Bautista, BCDA VP Jake Bingcang, NLEX SVP for Communication and Stakeholder Management Romulo Quimbo Jr, NLEX VP for Tollway Development and Engineering Nemesio Castillo. (Photo by ERICK SILVERIO)
The SFEX Capacity Expansion entails construction of two additional expressway lanes, two new bridges at Jadjad and Argonaut, and a new tunnel.
Bautista said, this will increase road capacity fromone lane in each direction to two lanes in each direction.
The new bridges and a tunnel will be constructed parallel to the existing ones. The new tunnel resembles a horseshoe that will provide structural stability against earth pressure.
Also included in the P1.6-billion project are the installation of expressway-standard LED lights as part of the tollway company’s efforts to improve motorists’ visibility when driving at night; the raising of Maritan Highway-Rizal Highway-Tipo Road junction; and the enhancement of the drainage system to help alleviate flooding in the area.
“One of the key drivers of economic growth is a network of high-quality roads.
The NLEX Corporation through NLEX, SCTEX, and the soon-to-be expanded SFEX not only intends to accelerate development, but also hopes to encourage travel convenience and road safety,” NLEX Corp. President Bautista said.
The target completion of said project is by September 2020, the SFEX Capacity Expansion is seen to enhance accessibility and promote travel efficiency on this key road that connects Bataan and Zambales.
It is also expected to boost Subic’s competitiveness in trade and tourism industries.
“The project will help sustain Subic’s position as a globally competitive trade and tourism hub,” said SBMA Chairman and Administrator Wilma T. Eisma, adding that “this road expansion will complement SBMA’s infrastructure development program and promotion of Subic as an ideal shipping gateway for businesses in Central and North Luzon.”
Looking forward to the SFEX Capacity Expansion Project is Congressman Jeffrey Konghun who believes that improvements in the road network will significantly benefit the province of Zambales.
“Because of the smoother and easier travel that this project will bring, our province will be more viable for local and foreign investments,” Konghun noted.
Following the groundbreaking ceremony, a ceremonial tree planting was also held to signify NLEX Corporation’s commitment to plant more trees in its bid to replace those affected by the ongoing road project.
“Environmental awareness has always been part of our sustainable development strategy that is why we will conduct tree planting activities in the coming months to help reduce carbon emissions and contribute to cleaner air and healthier ecology along the SFEX,” Bautista explained.
The NLEX Corporation is a subsidiary of the Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC), the tollways unit of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC).