By Emmie V. Abadilla
Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. subsidiary MPCALA Holdings, Inc., yesterday broke ground for the P12-billion Cavite segment of the Cavite-Laguna-Expressway (CALAEX) which will cut travel time from 2.5 hours from Imus, Cavite to Mamplasan exit of Southern Luzon Expressway (SLEX) in Laguna to under 45 minutes and help decongest Metro Manila of some 50,000 cars daily.
The Cavite Segment comprise 27 kilometers of the 45-kilometer Cavite-Laguna-Expressway (CALAEX) whilethe construction of the Laguna Segment is already ongoing. The entire project will be completed in 2 years.
The Cavite Segment starts from Kawit, Cavite and will traverse the Imus Open Canal, Governor’s Drive, Dasmariñas, Aguinaldo Highway, Silang which will connect to the Laguna Segment comprised of Sta. Rosa exiting to Mamplasan, Biñan Laguna towards SLEX.
"The Laguna Segment is well underway and will be substantially completed by July this year. We will simultaneously, push for the Cavite Segment to meet Laguna in a timely manner, completing the project by 2022,” DPWH Secretary Mark Villar yesterday announced.
The P12-billion Cavite segment will have state-of-the-art, world-class features to ensure safety and security for motorists, he added.
The tollway will have Automatic License Plate Recognition System which provides additional vehicle identification enabling barrier-less entry. An improved RFID system leads to higher and more efficient lane throughput.
It will also have Weigh in Motion sensors that will detect overloaded vehicles. IP-Based Speed Detection Cameras and HD CCTVs cover the entire expressway for traffic monitoring and incident detection.
“We are pleased that our project is moving as it should and jobs are being generated," noted Roberto Bontia, MPCALA President and General Manager.
"As a socially responsible corporate citizen, we would like to add value to our presence, not just in terms of bringing solutions to the traffic congestion but as a source of livelihood for the Province of Cavite and Laguna."
"The Laguna segment now in full swing will employ up to 1,200 personnel, and we expect to additionally employ close to 1,300 site and office personnel as construction progresses for the Cavite Segment,” he elaborated.
CALAEX is part of the network of toll roads which the MPTC is constructing and developing, it will connect to Cavitex and the C5-South Link which will make transfers from Laguna, Cavite, Las Piñas, Parañaque and CP Garcia Avenue seamless. Part of MPTC’s portfolio also includes the recently opened Harbor Link Segment 10, NLEX-SCTEX and the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway in the Visayas Region.