President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. led the final inspection and opening of NLEX-C5 Northlink Segment 8.2 Section 1A on Thursday, October 29, ahead of the anticipated Undas traffic surge. The 2-kilometer section of Segment 8.2 connects Quirino Highway in Quezon City to the NLEX Mindanao Toll Plaza in Valenzuela City.
EASING CONGESTION AND SHORTENING TRIPS
The newly opened section is expected to help ease congestion along Mindanao Avenue and Quirino Highway while improving travel time, safety, and convenience, especially during peak travel periods such as Undas.
Motorists from Quirino Highway can now directly access the NLEX Connector for trips to Manila, the University Belt, and nearby cities, providing an alternative route to EDSA. Those heading north can use the new section to reach the NLEX Mindanao Toll Plaza and access the NLEX mainline toward Central Luzon, with connections to the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) for onward travel to Northern Luzon. The section is expected to serve approximately 11,000 vehicles daily.
Operating 24/7 and accommodating all vehicle classes, the new section will facilitate the movement of people and goods and support transport logistics and economic activity.
PART OF A LARGER PROJECT
Section 1A is part of the 11.3-kilometer NLEX-C5 Northlink Segment 8.2 project, which extends from Mindanao Avenue to C5/C.P. Garcia near Katipunan Avenue. Once completed, the project will further improve connectivity between northern and southern Luzon via the eastern side of Metro Manila.
The NLEX-C5 Northlink is a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) project, with the TRB serving as government grantor and NLEX Corporation, a subsidiary of MPTC, acting as the private concessionaire.
AT THE INAUGURATION
Marcos was joined at the inspection and inauguration by Vince Dizon, transportation secretary; Giovanni Lopez, public works secretary; Mark Steven Pastor, senior undersecretary of the Department of Transportation (DOTr); Jayart Tugade, executive director of the TRB; Gilbert Santa Maria, president and CEO of MPTC; and Luis Reñon, president and general manager of NLEX Corporation. Local officials also attended, including Wes Gatchalian, mayor of Valenzuela City; Kenneth Gatchalian, representative of Valenzuela City’s 1st District; and Marivic Co-Pilar, representative of Quezon City’s 6th District.