Motorists may now ply a newly opened portion of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Elevated Expressway free of charge for one month.
Toll fees are waived for the moment as motorists are encouraged to try the elevated route, which opened on September 22 and connects the first two NAIA terminals to Macapagal Boulevard and SM Mall of Asia, according to the Department of Transportation (DOTr).
The stretch of road measuring less than two kilometers is expected to reduce travel time between NAIA Terminal 1 and Terminal 2 and Macapagal Boulevard from 15 minutes to less than five minutes, easing traffic and benefiting motorists in the Parañaque, Cavite and Pasay areas.
Once the promo ends, users will be charged toll fees of P35 for Class 1 vehicles, P69 for Class 2, and P104 for Class 3.
Before the end of the year, DOTr said, the longer arm of the elevated expressway linking NAIA Terminals 1 and 2 with Terminal 3 is expected to open.
Public Works Secretary Mark Villar, in a separate statement, said, “We are determined to finish the second section which would connect NAIA Terminals 1, 2, and 3 to the South Luzon Expressway before Christmas season. We will maintain the 24/7 operations in this project.”
Department of Public Works and Highways is the implementing agency of the P20.45-billion project, while San Miguel Corporation, through subsidiary and concession firm Vertex Tollways Development Inc., bagged in 2013 the public-private partnership deal to construct and operate the expressway.
The NAIA Expressway Project consists of a four-lane, 12.65-kilometer elevated expressway (including ramps) and a 2.22-kilometer at-grade road traversing Sales Avenue, Andrews Avenue, Parañaque River, MIAA Road, and Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard.
When all phases are completed, the expressway is expected to provide easy access to and from NAIA Terminals 1, 2, 3 and 4, and interface with South Luzon Expressway through Sales Interchange, Manila Cavite Toll Expressway, and Macapagal Boulevard.
A total of 16 off and on ramps are currently being constructed along strategic locations at Villamor Airbase, Resorts World, NAIA Terminal 3, MIAA Road, Imelda Avenue, Cavitex, Seaside Drive, and Macapagal Boulevard.
