The Laguna segment of Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX) covering Mamplasan Barrier going to Santa Rosa-Tagaytay Interchange was partially opened to the public last October 30.
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark Villar said approximately 10,000 cars are expected to enter and exit through the Mamplasan entry for westbound vehicles and Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay Entry for eastbound vehicles.
“This section will be about 10 minutes to drive. [This is] a big cut on travel time compared to the 45 minutes it currently takes to travel [from] Mamplasan to Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay road,” Villar said in a statement. The Laguna segment is currently 90% complete, with the remaining 10% being fast-tracked for completion.
Concessionaire MP CALA Holdings, Inc. president and general manager Bobby Bontia said the Laguna segment will be operational from Sunday to Thursday from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., with extended operational time on Friday until Saturday of 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.
“This will only be temporary, until we finish the remaining works for this first segment before December. By then full access of the other interchanges and 24-hour use shall be possible,” Bontia said.
The 45-kilometer CALAX is designed as a tolled four-lane expressway that will connect Manila Cavite Expressway (Cavitex) in Kawit, Cavite to South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) at their Mamplasan Interchange in Binan, Laguna. CALAX will have interchanges in eight locations, namely, Kawit, Imus Open Canal, Governor’s Drive, Aguinaldo Highway, Silang, Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay, Laguna Blvd., and Technopark, with a toll barrier before SLEX.
CALAX will showcase technologically advanced features such as an automatic license plate recognition system enabling barrier-less entry to CALAX, strategically installed IP-based speed detection cameras, and high-definition CCTV cameras that cover the entire stretch of the expressway to ensure safe and efficient travel by the motorists.
