The pandemic may have interrupted the construction of major infrastructure projects in the country, but that doesn't mean the government wasn't able to do significant progress. One example is the Central Luzon Link Expressway (CLLEX) which is getting closer to completion. 

Just recently the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) announced that Packages 1 and 2 of CLLEX are already complete. The recently-finished sections consist of the 4.1-kilometer Tarlac Section and the 6.4-kilometer Rio Chico River Bridge Section.

Central Luzon Link Expressway Phase 1 to be completed April 2021 image

According to Emil K. Sadain, Undersecretary of the DPWH's Unified Project Management Operations (UPMO), Package 1 also covered the construction of a 300-meter temporary off-/on-ramp to be used as an exit in La Paz-Victoria Road. Meanwhile, Package 2 includes the construction of a 1.5-kilometer Rio Chico River viaduct, 42-meter Sta. Lucia River Bridge, and the 38-meter La Paz-Victoria underpass bridge.

As for the remaining Packages 3 and 4, Sadain said that the two remaining sections will be completed by April 2021. Package 3 is currently 77% complete while Package 4 is already 84% finished. The former will span 9.2-kilometers while the latter will 10.3-kilometers long. When finished, CLLEX will cover a total of 30-kilometers.

Central Luzon Link Expressway Phase 1 to be completed April 2021 image

Once the project is complete, CLLEX Phase 1 will significantly cut travel time between Tarlac City and Cabanatuan City from 70 minutes to just 20 minutes. In addition, 11,200 motorists and commuters are expected to benefit from CLLEX, as well as ease traffic at Daang Maharlika by about 48%.

With the first two sections now complete, the DPWH is looking to partially open CLLEX to motorists sometime this December.

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