Harbor Link Interchange

Harbor Link Interchange
NLEX Harbor Link Interchange
Mindanao Interchange
Aerial view of the Harbor Link Interchange in 2018, looking east from NLEX Harbor Link
Map
Location
General T. De Leon and Parada, Valenzuela, Metro Manila, Philippines
Coordinates14°41′36.7″N 121°0′1.6″E / 14.693528°N 121.000444°E / 14.693528; 121.000444
Roads at
junction		 AH 26 (E1) (North Luzon Expressway)
E5 (NLEX Harbor Link)
Construction
TypeTwo-level cloverleaf interchange
Constructed2009–2010 by Leighton Contractors Asia Ltd
OpenedJune 5, 2010 (2010-06-05)
Maintained byDepartment of Public Works and Highways
NLEX Corporation
TollsPart of the open section of NLEX (see NLEX toll matrix)

The Harbor Link Interchange,[1] also known as the Mindanao Interchange and North Luzon Expressway Harbor Link Interchange (NLEX Harbor Link Interchange) and formerly known as the Smart Connect Interchange, is a two-level cloverleaf interchange in Valenzuela, Metro Manila, Philippines which serves as the junction of North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) between its main segment and its Harbor Link project, particularly Segments 8.1 and 9, components of Circumferential Road 5 (C-5). Built as part of the 2.7-kilometer (1.7 mi) NLEX Segment 8.1 of the Harbor Link project extending the expressway to Mindanao Avenue,[2] which has since been incorporated into the C-5 system, it is the Philippines' largest cloverleaf interchange in terms of land area.[3]

History

NLEX southbound at Harbor Link Interchange

During the planning stages of Circumferential Road 5 (C-5), a planned interchange with the Manila North Expressway (now North Luzon Expressway) was also in place.[4] Based on a 1980 feasibility study by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the proposed location of the interchange, then known as C-5/Manila North Expressway Interchange, was at MNEX's bend in Valenzuela.[5][6]

Construction of NLEX Segment 8.1, including the present-day Harbor Link Interchange on the same proposed site, broke ground on April 2, 2009,[7] with actual construction work beginning 19 days later.[8]

The entire segment was opened to traffic on June 5, 2010, with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Manuel V. Pangilinan, chairman of the Manila North Tollways Corporation, the concessionaire of the North Luzon Expressway, leading the inauguration along with Public Works and Highways Secretary Victor Domingo and high-ranking officials from Valenzuela.[9] With some 30,000 vehicles estimated to use the new road daily during its first year of operation,[8] since its opening, it has helped to relieve traffic on the older Balintawak Interchange connecting Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) to NLEX,[10] which is three times smaller.[8]

Although the interchange was opened to traffic in 2010, it originally only carried traffic between Valenzuela and eastern Metro Manila via NLEX Segment 8.1, with the westbound ramps closed to traffic. Work on a connection between the interchange and western Metro Manila would only be realized with the construction of the 2.42-kilometer (1.50 mi) NLEX Segment 9 between the interchange and the MacArthur Highway in Karuhatan, which was opened on March 19, 2015.[11] A further extension from Karuhatan to the Port of Manila, known as NLEX Segment 10 or NLEX Harbor Link, was opened gradually from February 28, 2019, to June 15, 2020.[12][13]

On November 16, 2012,[14] Smart Communications bought the naming rights to the interchange, calling it Smart Connect Interchange until circa 2021.[15][16]

On June 21, 2021, as part of a greening initiative led by NLEX Corporation, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and House Deputy Speaker Eric Martinez (Valenzuela–2nd), 3181 saplings were planted at the interchange.[17]

References

  1. ^ "NLEX eyes construction of 2km extension to Quezon City by second half of the year". NLEX Corporation. June 27, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
  2. ^ "MNTC ready to undertake NLEX-C5 road link proj". The Philippine Star. PhilStar Daily, Inc. April 30, 2012. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  3. ^ "Feasibility Study for Manila-Bataan Coastal Road and Its Related Roads (C-5 & C-6) Project, Volume IV: Appendix" (PDF). Japan International Cooperation Agency. Japan International Cooperation Agency : Government of the Philippines, Counterpart Study Team. March 1980. Retrieved April 7, 2024.
  4. ^ "Feasibility Study for Manila-Bataan Coastal Road and Its Related Roads (C-5 & C-6) Project, Volume I & II" (PDF). Japan International Cooperation Agency. Japan International Cooperation Agency : Government of the Philippines, Counterpart Study Team. March 1980. Retrieved April 7, 2024.
  5. ^ "Feasibility Study for Manila-Bataan Coastal Road and Its Related Roads (C-5 & C-6) Project, Summary & Recommendations" (PDF). Japan International Cooperation Agency. Japan International Cooperation Agency : Government of the Philippines, Counterpart Study Team. March 1980. Retrieved April 7, 2024.
  6. ^ "MNTC starts construction of roads connecting NLEX from all directions". GMA News and Public Affairs. April 2, 2009. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  7. ^ a b c "NLEX's Segment 8.1 opens today, June 5" (Press release). Manila North Tollways Corporation. June 5, 2010. Archived from the original on June 20, 2010. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  8. ^ "PGMA inaugurates P2.1-B NLEX-Mindanao Avenue Link". Philippines News Agency. June 5, 2010. Archived from the original on August 29, 2016. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  9. ^ Reyes, Mary Ann L.L. (July 12, 2015). "Seamless travel". The Philippine Star. PhilStar Daily, Inc. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  10. ^ "NLEX's Segment 9 opens Thursday". ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs. March 18, 2015. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  11. ^ Unite, Betheena (February 28, 2020). "Harbor Link Segment 10 finally opens". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on February 28, 2019. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
  12. ^ "NLEX opens latest Harbor Link section". CNN Philippines. June 15, 2020. Archived from the original on June 15, 2020. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
  13. ^ Smart Communications [@LiveSmart] (November 16, 2012). "MOA signing for the SMART CONNECT Interchange. The largest cloverleaf in the Phil now sports a new name. http://twitpic.com/bdkqy1" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  14. ^ "Smart, MNTC, Voyager tie up for interactive mobile messaging" (Press release). Smart Communications. July 26, 2013. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
  15. ^ NLEX Corporation [@NLEXexpressways] (November 19, 2021). "#NLEXTrafficUpdate November 19, 5:13pm" (Tweet). Retrieved June 24, 2023 – via Twitter. NLEX Harbor Link Interchange (formerly Smart Connect Interchange) - approx. 5km build up
  16. ^ Pagulayan, Neil (June 25, 2021). "Rep. Martinez, NLEX and DENR lead green initiative at Harbor Link Interchange". Autocar Philippines. Retrieved June 27, 2023.