In the seven years since the Subic-Tarlac-Clark Expressway has come under the management of the NLEX Corp, around Php 2.6 billion worth of improvements have been implemented. Most of these, of course, are geared towards providing convenience and ensuring the safety of motorists.
A view of the Pasig-Potrero Bridge
For this year alone, the said company is working on repairs to the Pasig-Potrero Bridge, which carried SCTEX over the Pasig-Potero River in Pampanga. So far, this project has cost the company around Php 152 million.
Of note, the Pasig-Potrero Bridge links together Subic in Zambales and Clark in Pampanga. Strengthening the infrastructure is deemed vital due to the fact that the river below has been experiencing riverbed degradation caused by quarrying in the immediate area.
To address this, steel sheets and gabions (a wire cage or box structure) are currently being put up in order for the remaining sand to stay in place around the bridge piers.
Next up is the elevation of a portion of SCTEX in Dinalupihan. By raising this 640-meter stretch, NLEX Corp. wants to ensure the safe passage of motorists during the rainy season. Aside from the addition of another pavement layer, new drainages and culverts are also being put up to prevent flooding.
As for projects that have already been completed by the NLEX Corp, there’s the three-phase rehabilitation program which costs Php 953.9 million. This provided a new asphalt overlay and patching works for the more than 94-kilometer stretch of SCTEX.
Laying down asphalt on a portion of SCTEX
There are also the finished repairs for several other bridges along SCTEX, including the Gumain bridge in Pampanga as well as the Pinulot, Loakan, and Cui bridges located in Bataan. These in turn had a total budget of Php 130.3 million. The company has also allocated Php 47.8 million for other structural features like fences, guardrails, and drainages.
The company also worked on the NLEX-SCTEX integration project since 2016 which has since been completed. This had a budget of Php 393 million, and it resulted in the seamless merging of the two aforementioned expressways into a single system. This was paired with the addition of modern technologies for monitoring traffic and for ensuring better visibility, costing Php 184.2 million.
Then there are the new toll lanes in Clark South and Tipo, as well as the new entry and exit toll plazas around Mabiga. Apart from the total cost of Php 399.2 million, these were also fitted with RFID detection systems and automatic license plate recognition systems that entailed an additional Php 103 million.
The NLEX-SCTEX integration makes for a smoother and less complicated road trip
Last but not the least, the NLEX Corp has banded together with the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) to construct the New Clark City Interchange. This was completed in time for the country’s hosting of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, and it had a total budget of Php 88.3 million.
Those are just some of the completed and in-progress improvements for the SCTEX. Meanwhile, the company says that it has already lined up several interchange and system enhancements in the coming years.
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