MALOLOS CITY (PIA) — The Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) has announced that construction of the Bulacan segment of the Northern Access Link Expressway (NALEX) Phase 1 is set to commence within the year.
TRB Executive Director Alvin Carullo said the Department of Environment and Natural Resources has issued an Environmental Clearance Certificate for NALEX Phase 1, which will connect Tullahan in Valenzuela City to New Manila International Airport (NMIA) in Bulakan, Bulacan.
TRB approved the NALEX Project in May 2022 , with the first phase set for completion by 2028.
A key development is the construction of a left-turning viaduct at the Skyway Stage 3 terminus in Balintawak, Caloocan City, which will lead towards Valenzuela City and Obando, Bulacan.
NALEX Phase 1, spanning 136 kilometers, is implemented under the Build-Operate-Transfer model of Public-Private Partnership, which allows private concessionaires to invest in, build, and operate the expressway before transferring control to the government after the agreed concession period.
TRB granted the concession of the P148.30 billion NALEX Project to San Miguel Corporation (SMC) Northern Access Link Expressway Corporation, while Skyway O&M Corporation will be the operator.
Meanwhile, the 117-kilometer NALEX Phase 2 was also approved. This extension will run from NMIA to the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway in Tarlac City.
Initial road right-of-way acquisition has begun for the Malolos Interchange, which will connect NALEX Phase 2 to Manila North Road or MacArthur Highway and NLEX near Sta. Rita Exit in Barangay Bungahan, Malolos City. (MJSC/SFV, PIA Region 3-Bulacan)
