A unit of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. said the construction of the first phase of the Cavitex C5 South Link faces delays because of the right-of-way issue with another toll road operator.
“We need some sorts of no objection from the operator of SLEx [South Luzon Expressway] or the Skyway because we have a flyover across SLEx. So for us to be able to cross, we need a permission from them, which is in a form of MOA [memorandum of understanding] and eventually they will issue a notice of no objection,” Cavitex Infrastructure Corp. president Luigi Bautista said.
San Miguel Corp. and the Citra group of Indonesia, operator of SLEx have yet to sign the MOA, while the three other signatories—Public Works Department, Transportation Department and Cavitex already signed the deal
“With the things that are happening now, most likely the construction would be first quarter of next year,” Bautista said.
Construction of the first phase of Cavitex C5 South Link was supposed to start in July, to link C5 and Merville, Parañaque by way of a flyover. The second phase, which would start in 2017 to link Merville and Cavitex, would cost P9.5 billion.
Cavitex C5 South Link will allow residents from Cavite, Las Piñas and parts of Parañaque to avoid Edsa and take a direct link to and from C5 to Cavitex.
Bautista said the new expressway, which was expected to be completed in 2019, would add 40,000 to 45,000 vehicle traffic per day, on top of the 130,000 vehicles currently using Cavitex.
C5 South Link will ultimately connect with R1 Expressway (Coastal Road) and provide fast, safe and convenient travel for motorists going to and from Parañaque, Las Piñas and Cavite and for Paranaque residents in Multinational, Moonwalk and Merville villages.
The new expressway will not only decongest the Parañaque villages, but will also provide easier travel from Taguig, Makati, Pasay, Pasig, Quezon City and other northern areas to Manila, Las Piñas and Cavite province.
It will also provide relief for vehicles using the congested Edsa and C5 Road arteries of the metropolis.
When completed, the expressway will provide a seamless connection to Cavitex road network and to Cavite-Laguna Expressway slated for completion in 2020.
The new C5 Link is envisioned to spur further economic development in Parañaque and in Cavite and Laguna provinces by providing a safe and convenient link from the central and northern parts of Metro Manila to the high-growth industrial and residential centers in Southern Tagalog.
MPTC also operates the North Luzon Expressway and Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway.
MPTC won the bid for the 45-kilometer Cavite-Laguna Expressway and is set to implement the Cebu-Cordova bridge project that will provide a convenient third bridge from Mactan island to Cebu City.