New projects in Luzon to help traffic move more efficiently

The Philippine auto industry still harbors a glimmer of hope that car manufacturing can enjoy resurgence—given that the appropriate “road map” is given and not a moment too soon. If successful, the auto industry will be an important boost to the economy, particularly in technological capability and employment generation.

 

One negative aspect would be the effect the increase in car sales volume will have on the local traffic. Already at a near standstill on a regular basis, traffic on such major thoroughfares as Edsa and C5 may bring new meaning to the phrase “hell on earth.” Already, multiple opinions have been given and studies conducted. All that remains is political will to clean up the available roads of traffic obstacles, and that includes buses that shouldn’t be on the road in the first place.

 

In addition to improving available road quality and traffic flow, construction of new roads should also be a priority. With the industry looking optimistically at 300,000 unit sales per year by 2015, construction should begin now. Recently, several road projects have been announced that may speed up traffic flow in and around Metro Manila.

 

The Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEx) was scheduled to begin operation of its first phase on Oct. 31. This connects the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx) with a 17-kilometer section from Tarlac City to Victoria, then to Gerona, Tarlac. The first phase is expected to cut travel time to Baguio by as much as 40 minutes, and is part of the 88.6-km expressway. The segment up to Rosales, Pangasinan, will be completed by 2014, with the La Union section scheduled for completion by 2016.

 

A new toll road to link Manila’s harbor area to the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) is scheduled to be completed by 2014. The P6-billion project by Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. will connect Manila’s port area to NLEx via McArthur Highway. The company expects to benefit from shipping and cargo industry growth.

 

Perhaps the biggest relief for Metro Manila traffic would be the connector road that would link the NLEx to South Luzon Expressway. The design and structure for this has yet to be finalized, with the proposed road cutting travel time between the northern and southern expressways to about 20 minutes, from the current over an hour.

 

The Calamba-Los Baños Expressway and Laguna Lakeshore Expressway Dike road are being planned. There’s also the Central Luzon Link Expressway, which will span 65 km. It will connect Tarlac to San Jose, Nueva Ecija, and will connect the SCTEx and TPLEx.

 

The projects are to be submitted to the National Economic Development Authority by December and then generate private sector interest.

 

Taken together, these projects are a necessary upgrade to maintain some measure of efficient movement of people and goods within Metro Manila and Luzon. One study has shown that if no additional roads are built, then traffic even at the north and south expressways will grind to the near standstill that Edsa is now. The new roads, just like the road map for the auto industry, couldn’t come soon enough.—With reports from Inquirer Business