CALAX First Segment Groundbreaking Ceremony

Sta. Rosa, Laguna — Groundbreaking rites for CALAX one of the largest public-private partnership projects between the government and the private sector, kicked off today at the Nuvali Spine Road in Sta. Rosa, Laguna.

DPWH Secretary Mark Villar and Metro Pacific Chairman Manny V. Pangilinan led the ceremonies. They were joined by DOTr Sec. Arthur Tugade, DBM Secretary Benjamin Diokno and other national and local dignitaries  who witnessed the jumpstart of construction for the 45kilometer toll expressway connecting the Cavitex and South Luzon Expressway. 

 “We are one with the Government in laying the building blocks for this flagship project, and today’s event opens a new chapter in the country’s progress,” said J. Luigi L. Bautista, President of Metro Pacific Tollways South, the implementor of the project. 

Catalyst for growth

An estimated 5,000 jobs will be created with the construction of CALAX for three years and throughout its concession period. Employment will be generated not only by those who will design, build and operate the facility, but also by the  creation of more  jobs and economic opportunities for those who invest, work, live or commute around the Cavite-Laguna corridor. 

The P34.5-billion CALAX will start from Cavitex in Kawit, Cavite and end at the SLEx-Mamplasan Interchange in Biñan, Laguna.

The project will involve building a four-lane expressway from these two points through congested residential and industrial areas in Kawit, Imus, General Trias, Dasmarinas, and Silang in Cavite, through to Sta. Rosa and Biñan in Laguna.

The project will have eight interchanges and one main toll barrier.

Construction is expected to be completed by 2020, while operations, and maintenance would be from 2020 to 2050.

In step with govt's “build, build, build” thrust

A priority project of the government’s thrust for infrastructure building, CALAX will ease travel through the fast-growing areas of Kawit, Imus, General Trias, Dasmarinas, and Silang in Cavite, as well as Sta. Rosa and Binan in Laguna, and provide a convenient new corridor for a safe and reliable commute through Southern Tagalog. 

Bautista said CALAX  project  will cut travel time from Kawit to Binan  to  45 minutes. “The road network in Cavite and Laguna will be radically transformed – as will transportation, housing, and employment opportunities for people along the expressway and surrounding areas,” he added. 

Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation operates the NLEX and the SCTEX which connects the metropolis with Subic and Tarlac, as well as the CAVITEX from Pasay City to Kawit, Cavite. Other projects in the pipeline include Segment 10 Harbor Link from NLEX towards the R-10 Road, the NLEX-SLEX Connector Road, the C5 South Link project, and the iconic Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway.