NLEX Corporation to improve Magsaysay Boulevard in Manila

NLEX Corporation announced that it will enhance the Ramon Magsaysay Boulevard beginning this month.

The tollway operator said in a statement that the redevelopment works are part of the construction of the NLEX Connector Sta. Mesa Section.

In a statement, the company said that the redevelopment will involve the rehabilitation of the current eastbound and westbound service roads, improvement of Philippine National Railways (PNR) railroad crossing, relocation of electric posts, and decommissioning of the Magsaysay Flyover.

The improvement project will be implemented until the first quarter of next year with the decommissioning of the Magsaysay Flyover achieved by December 2022, before the Christmas holidays.

The NLEX Corporation also said that the program will be done in phases, with temporary lane closures starting at the road going to Legarda, Manila then at the road going to Cubao, Quezon City. 

“A minimum of three lanes per direction will remain open during daytime, while two lanes per direction will be available during nighttime. More information on the closures will be posted on NLEX Corporation’s various communication platforms,” the toll operator said.

When finished, traffic flow at Magsaysay Boulevard is expected to improve as it will have a new configuration of five lanes per direction and will be wider with 3.5 meters per lane. The Magsaysay Boulevard currently has six lanes per direction with narrow lanes measuring 2.5 meters.

With the decommissioning of the Magsaysay Flyover, the Connector mainline will be at the second level rather than at the fourth level, thus ensuring safer and faster travel of all classes of vehicles particularly, Class 3 vehicles coming to and from the port areas.”

“The redevelopment project and the NLEX Connector both aim to ease traffic in the metro and improve the flow of vehicles in its surrounding areas,” NLEX Corporation President and General Manager J. Luigi Bautista said.

In addition, the tollway firm and its contractor will conduct the necessary measures to reduce slowdowns and guarantee the safety of motorists and pedestrians while the redevelopment works are ongoing, which include the deployment of traffic marshals and installation of directional signs and safety devices at strategic locations.

“With a traffic management scheme in place, we seek to provide safe and efficient passage to the public while we are undertaking this redevelopment of Magsaysay Boulevard,” he added.

The eight-kilometer NLEX Connector is divided into two sections: the España and Sta Mesa. The five-kilometer España portion is from Caloocan Interchange on C3 Road, España Boulevard while the three-kilometer Sta Mesa section runs from España Boulevard to Ramon Magsaysay Boulevard, all the way to Sta. Mesa, Manila.

At least 35,000 motorists per day are expected to benefit from the NLEX Connector. It is also eyed to reduce travel time from NLEX to South Luzon Expressway to 20 minutes from the usual two hours, while Clark to Calamba will just be approximately an hour and 40 minutes instead of three hours.

Photos from NLEX Corporation

Also read:

Construction of NLEX Connector Sta. Mesa Section begins

NLEX Connector to complete first 5-kilometer stretch this year

NLEX vows to continue major road projects