North-South Luzon tollway linkage estimated to cost P20 billion

MANILA, Philippines - Linking the North and South Luzon expressways by road and rail is estimated to cost around P20 billion, according to a top official of the First Philippine Infrastructure Inc. (FPII).

FPII, now owned by Metro Pacific Investments Corp., earlier entered into a memorandum of understanding with the Philippine National Railways to study the feasibility of developing an integrated transport system that will connect the two tollways.

FPII president and chief executive officer Ramoncito Fernandez said initial estimates show that the project might cost about P20 billion and could be completed over a period of four to five years.

Fernandez said securing the right-of-way might take two years and another two years to construct the project.

Initial discussions earlier focused on the development of an 18-kilometer rail and toll road project that will feature a level and elevated roadways over the existing PNR line.

Manuel Pangilinan, FPII chairman, said the partnership with PNR was in line with the group’s thrust to focus on infrastructure projects and to help ease the congestion in the greater Metro Manila transportation networks.

This was an alternative to two proposals. The government is planning to build a flyover that will connect C-5 Road to Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City, so that vehicles from the South Luzon Expressway don’t have to deal with traffic on Epifanio de los Santos Avenue to get to the North Luzon Expressway. It will cost P420 million.

Another plan, worth P55 billion, is to extend the Skyway from Parañaque to Balintawak in Quezon City.

FPII was acquired last year by MPIC when it bought the stakes held by two Lopez-led companies for P12.2 billion.