#MBSideTrip: You read it right, Central Luzon Link Expressway is toll free


Motorists going to Nueva Ecija will have the chance to enjoy a smooth travel via the Central Luzon Link Expressway (CLLEX), free of charge.

This was announced by Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) secretary Mark Villar via his latest Facebook Page post.

“The Central Luzon Link Expressway, connecting Tarlac and Nueva Ecija, will be opened this July 15. Wala pong toll sa CLLEX,” posted Villar.

The entire project will not be charging motorists of any amount as it is funded by the General Appropriations Act (GAA), unlike other private-public partnership (PPP) projects that is funded through a partnership between the government and the private sector.

FREE USE. Unlike the Skyway 3 experience that allowed motorists free use of its 18-kilometer elevated highway only for a couple months, the Central Luzon Link Expressway (CLLEX) will be absolutely toll free. (DPWH Facebook photo/MANILA BULLETIN)

To be opened initially on Thursday, July 15 is the first 18-km segment of the expressway as work on the Cabanatuan segment is currently ongoing.

It will soon be extended from Cabanatuan City to San Jose Nueva Ecija which is part of the Phase II project. The total length of the CLLEX is 65.70 kilometers.

Villar expressed confidence that CLLEX would become an efficient alternate route for the motoring public going to Nueva Ecija as it is expected to shorten the usual travel time of 70 minutes between Tarlac City and Cabanatuan City to just 20 minutes.

The new expressway will also form a key east-west link for the expressway network of Central Luzon, in effect ensuring a continuous, seamless traffic for the motoring public from Metro Manila and vice versa.

WATCH: Video of Central Luzon Link Expressway courtesy of Sec. Mark Villar