President Marcos said NLEX management opened ahead of schedule to help motorists travel faster and more conveniently, and ease traffic congestion during the anticipated surge in vehicles for Undas.
“At ito (NLEX-C5 Northlink Segment 8.2 Section 1A) ay binuksan natin ngayon dahil ang katotohanan, ang schedule nito hindi pa ngayon dapat mabubuksan, pero pinilit na natin na buksan para makapaghanda sa Undas,” President Marcos said.
“So mas madali ngayon ang pagdaloy ng traffic at saka para hindi masyadong mahirapan ang ating mga kababayan sa kanilang pag-recognize at saka pag-celebrate ng Undas,” the President also said.
This two-kilometer section of Segment 8.2 connects Quirino Highway in Quezon City to NLEX Mindanao Toll Plaza in Valenzuela City, cutting travel time from 40 minutes to just five minutes while improving safety and convenience for up to 11,000 motorists daily.
“Dadaan ng traffic siguro 40 minutes, 45 minutes. Ngayon, pagbukas nito, limang minuto na lang,” President Marcos emphasized.
President Marcos was joined by Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon, Public Works Secretary Giovanni Lopez, Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC) representatives, and other government officials during the inspection and inauguration.
The opening of NLEX-C5 Northlink Segment 8.2 Section 1A strengthens road connectivity in Metro Manila, giving motorists an additional route option for faster, safer, and more convenient travel.
The new section is part of the government’s continuing efforts to improve the country’s road network, ease traffic congestion, and facilitate the movement of people and goods.
With the new section, motorists from Quirino Highway can now directly access the NLEX Connector for trips to Manila, the University Belt, and nearby cities, offering an alternative route to EDSA.
Those heading north can use the new section to reach the NLEX Mindanao Toll Plaza and access the NLEX mainline toward Central Luzon, with connections to the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) for onward travel to Northern Luzon.
Motorists are encouraged to plan their trips and monitor traffic advisories, as well as observe road safety measures.
Operating 24/7 and accommodating all vehicle classes, the new section will facilitate the movement of people and goods and support transport logistics and economic activity.
Section 1A is part of the 11.3-kilometer NLEX-C5 Northlink Segment 8.2 project, which extends from Mindanao Avenue to C5/C.P. Garcia near Katipunan Avenue.
Once completed, the project will further improve connectivity between northern and southern Luzon via the eastern side of Metro Manila.
The NLEX-C5 Northlink is a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) project with the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) serving as government grantor, and NLEX Corporation, a subsidiary of Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC), acting as the private concessionaire.
