Travel around Luzon Island is now faster with the operation of several expressways that connect Metro Manila to many parts of the north, east, west, and south of the island.
From the country’s first expressways – the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) built in the late sixties, to the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR), the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway, the Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX) opened only in 2019, and the Central Luzon Link Expressway (CLLEX) partially opened in 2021 – the people have been cruising to go everywhere to meet opportunity and leisure.
These expressways have become the lifeline to many cities and towns, boosting economic activities of businesses and industries through the transport of goods and services.
A few months ago, after restrictions were eased following the low number of Covid cases, local tourism was one the first industries that got a boost because expressways provided a convenient way to travel, explore, and contribute to economic activity.
The good news that came days ago is that another expressway is being prepared to be built, this time to complete the expressway infrastructure from Metro Manila to the Bicol Region. Traveling by land from Manila to the Bicol Region takes at least half a day.
Thus, a project that would build a 417-kilometer expressway from Lucena City to the Bicol Region came as happy news. The Department of Transportation (DOTr) had signed on June 3, the Supplemental Toll Operations Agreement (STOA) for the South Luzon Expressway Toll Road 5 (SLEX TR5) with the San Miguel Corporation (SMC).
The 417-kilometer TR5 project to be built in stages, will start at the South Luzon Expressway TR4 Project in Barangay Mayao in Lucena City and will end near the Matnog Ferry Port in Sorsogon. That is where an efficient roll-on-roll-of ferry system takes people and products to the Visayas Region through Samar, Leyte and Cebu islands.
The convenience of land travel that will be offered by the SLEX T5 project will definitely boost not only tourism but countryside development.
According to reports, the TR5 project will be a four-lane divided toll road with 28 interchanges. It will have eight segments which will run parallel to the existing Philippine National Railway, Maharlika Highway and Padre Burgos National Road or Quirino Highway. The segments are: Lucena to Gumaca, Quezon; Gumaca to Tagkawayan; Tagkawayan to Sipocot, Camarines Sur; Sipocot to Naga City; Naga City to Polangui, Albay; Polangui to Legazpi City; Legaspi to Sorsogon City, and Sorsogon City to Matnog, Sorsogon.
“The SLEX TR5 will connect the Province of Quezon and Bicol . It is also expected to provide better and safer access to tourism destinations, RORO ports, and fish ports in the two provinces and address traffic congestion in the Bicol Region,” DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade said during the signing ceremonies.
The TR5 project will connect to the SLEX Toll Road 4 (SLEX TR4), a 66.74-km project which is now being constructed from Sto. Tomas in Batangas to Lucena City in Quezon. Last year, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) announced that it expects the first 20-km portion at the expressway TR4 to open sometime in 2022.
That expressway will lead to the SLEX TR5, which will lead straight to Bicol Region.
Although the announcement did not include the date when this project will start, the news of a major road infrastructure tells of what’s up ahead in countryside development.