THE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is expecting the approval of the NAIA Expressway (NAIAx) expansion project within the first quarter of the year.
San Miguel Corp. (SMC) proposed the project, which is awaiting the nod of the Investment Coordination Committee (ICC) of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).
“The NAIA Expressway expansion, I think it is moving forward. So hopefully soon, I think within the first quarter we can expect NEDA [approval],” Public Works Secretary Mark A. Villar said in Malabon City Friday on the sidelines of the inspection of NLEX Harbor Link Segment 10 C3-R10 Section, when asked for an update regarding the project.
The DPWH chief said his office wanted the project to be extended up to Lawton Ave., including Imelda Ave.
SMC announced in 2017 that it had submitted to the government a three-year plan to expand toll roads in southern Metro Manila, as a way to address traffic congestion.
The expansion plan includes NAIAx along with South Luzon Expressway (SLEx), Skyway system, and Southern Tagalog Arterial Road.
SMC was also planning to extend the new NAIAx to Bonifacio Global City (BGC), which aims to reduce traffic on the Sales Bridge and cut travel time from the airport to BGC to 10 minutes. The project will include additional NAIAx ramps from the NAIA Terminals 1 and 2 to SM Sucat, where it can connect with the C-5 extension.
The NAIAx is a private-public partnership with SMC. — Arjay L. Balinbin
