One by one, we're beginning to see big-ticket infrastructure projects—particularly major expressways such as the Skyway Stage 3—get completed. These structures are built to reduce travel time to, from, and around the Metro as well as improve traffic in the nearby areas. These expressway projects are also part of the government's goal to connect the northern and southern parts of Luzon via a massive road network known as the Luzon Spine Expressway Network. Through the Luzon Spine Expressway Network (LSEN) Program, the Department of Public Works and Highways eyes cutting travel time from Ilocos to Bicol to just nine hours.
Some of the main roads of the LSEN are, of course, the existing thoroughfares we know of such as the South Luzon Expressway, the North Luzon Expressway, Skyway Stages 1 to 3, the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway, and the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway.
In a recent online meeting with Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark Villar, he shared a few updates on the other major roads under LSEN that are set to be completed soon. One of the biggest roads is the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) extension, also known as TR4. Construction started way back in March 2019, and according to the DPWH, Package B is 2.58% done and Package C is at 30.61%. The agency also shared that the right-of-way acquisition for SLEX-TR4 is still also ongoing.
SLEX-TR4 will then connect to SLEX-TR5, a 416.48-kilometer, four-lane toll road with eight segments in total. The road starts in Lucena City in Quezon province and stretches all the way to Matnog in Sorsogon. Construction for this toll road is yet to commence.
The southernmost road that will be part of this whole network is the Camarines Sur Expressway, a 15.21 kilometer, four-lane road that will connect the municipalities of San Fernando and Pili. It is currently 15% complete, and the DPWH estimates the project to finish beyond 2022.
Other expressways—both completed and still under construction—that don't directly connect the Metro to the southern provinces are also considered part of the LSEN, including the soon-to-rise Central Luzon Link Expressway, the NAIA Expressway, Manila-Cavite Expressway, the Cavite-Laguna Expressway, the Muntinlupa-Cavite Expressway, and the Cavite-Tagaytay-Batangas Expressway.
Unfortunately, Villar didn't give a rough estimate of the current progress of the entire LSEN Program. For a better view of the entire expressway network, check this out:
It looks like there's still a long, long way to go before we finally see all these expressways completed. Nonetheless, it's definitely something to look forward to in the future. We'll be keeping our fingers crossed that the traffic situation in Metro Manila and beyond will improve in the next few years.
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Source: Spot PH
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