The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) led by Secretary Mark A. Villar has been committed to fast-track the right-of-way (ROW) delivery for the target completion of the NLEX Harbor Link Segment 10 project in December this year.

NLEX Harbor Link Segment 10 is an all-elevated expressway aimed at providing direct access between the port area to the northern provinces of Luzon through NLEX.

The 5.7-kilometer project, which is using the alignment of the Philippine National Railways (PNR), traverses Karuhatan in Valenzuela City, Governor Pascual Avenue in Malabon City, and C3 road in Caloocan City.

“DPWH is incessantly working on speeding up the delivery of needed ROW for the smooth implementation of big-ticket infrastructure projects under the Duterte administration such as the Segment 10,” said Secretary Villar, adding that “task forces have been formed for fast and efficient acquisition and turnover of ROW to concessionaires.”

According to the NLEX Corporation, Secretary Villar and his team have coordinated with the PNR management to allow and expedite the clearing of structures, particularly the public market, along the PNR ROW in Caloocan City.

Late last year, works at the Segment 10 project were slowed down as the NLEX Corporation is still awaiting the clearing of the remaining 35 percent of the ROW.

“The space occupied by the public market, once cleared, will enable our contractors to continue construction works and complete the expressway as scheduled,” said NLEX Corporation President Rodrigo E. Franco.

To facilitate the transfer of the Poblacion Public Market tenants, the expressway company has constructed a new public market beside the existing public market on 10th Avenue, Caloocan City. The newly constructed establishment includes market stalls and comfort rooms.

Franco said installation of crossheads and columns will be undertaken in the area as soon as the remaining obstacles are cleared.

Featured in the government’s “Build Build Build” infrastructure program, the P10.5-billion NLEX Harbor Link Segment 10 will decongest Metro Manila by providing an alternative entry to NLEX, bypassing EDSA and other busy streets of Manila. Once opened, travel time from the Manila Port to the NLEX will take only 10 minutes.