Integration of NLEx, SCTEx seen to ease travel to North

THE DAU Toll Plaza will be dismantled by March as part of the NLEx-SCTEx integration which aims to provide seamless journey between the two expressways. RON LOPEZ / INQUIRER CENTRAL LUZON

SUBIC BAY FREEPORT—The North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) and Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx) will be integrated before the Holy Week in March, in time for the summer holiday exodus, their operators said.

The Manila North Tollways Corp. (MNTC) said it would complete by the first week of March the dismantling of the NLEx Dau barrier and the SCTEx Mabalacat barrier, both in Pampanga province, the Subic Freeport Expressway toll plaza in Subic, Zambales province, and the SCTEx La Paz toll barrier in Tarlac province.

This would ease travel on the expressways, said Glenn Campos, MNTC vice president for technology and operations management.

“If you’ll drive from Manila to Tarlac, you’ll only need to pass through Balintawak [toll plaza] and La Paz [toll plaza]. That will save you at least 35 to 40 minutes,” he said.

MNTC, which assumed the concession of the SCTEx in October last year, started the construction of individual toll booths in Dau, Sta. Ines, and Mabiga, all in Mabalacat, Pampanga, for motorists who will exit to or enter from Mabalacat.

A new Tipo toll barrier and a Tarlac toll barrier are also being constructed.

Campos said the integration project will cost P650 million. Despite these expenses, MNTC has yet to impose a toll hike.

Marlene Ochoa, MNTC vice president for corporation communications, said the firm has two requests for toll rate increase pending in the Land Transportation Franchise and Regulatory Board: A 12-percent hike for 2013 and a 3-percent hike for 2015. Ron Lopez, Inquirer Central Luzon