LIGHT RAIL Manila Corp. (LRMC) expects to start construction of the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) Cavite extension in the first quarter of next year.
“We have in fact started preparatory works this year while a few remaining issues on the ROW (right of way) are being resolved. Forecast start for the construction of the Cavite Extension viaduct is Q1 2019,” LRMC President Juan F. Alfonso said in a mobile text message.
LRMC, the consortium of Ayala Corp., Metro Pacific Light Rail Corp., and Macquarie Infrastructure Holdings (Philippines) Pte. Ltd., bagged the public-private partnership (PPP) project for the Cavite extension in September 2015. It involves rehabilitation of the existing 21-kilometer (km.) LRT-1 line and an 11.7-km. extension from Baclaran to Bacoor.
In August, Mr. Alfonso said they have already issued the Notice to Proceed to its engineering, procurement and construction contractors, French firm Bouygues Travaux Publics and European firm Alstom.
For the extension, LRMC will build eight new stations from Baclaran, namely, Redemptorist, NAIA Avenue, Asia World, Ninoy Aquino, Dr. Santos, Las Piñas, Zapote and Niog.
In May, Mr. Alfonso said once construction of the Cavite extension begins, it will take around four years to complete the project.
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