There could be heavy traffic along the Cavite Expressway (Cavitex) from March to October, as major construction works are getting underway.

According to Cavitex traffic operations head Carlo Hipol, the following activities would have impact on traffic flow:

• Relocation of Manila Electric Company (Meralco) posts near the Cavitex exit from February 10 to May 10
• Heavy maintenance at the Zapote Interchange in Bacoor City, Cavite, from March 1 to 19
• Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT1) Cavite Extension works from March 15 to May 31
• C5 Link Expressway ramp works (scheduled until March 2022, but the traffic scheme so far indicated plans until October)

Meralco post relocation

From February 10 to May 10, the Manila-bound lane near the Cavitex exit will be closed. There will only be 3 lanes going to Manila during that time, as utility posts will be relocated due to the LRT1 Cavite Extension project.

Heavy maintenance at Cavitex

For Cavitex maintenance, motorists bound for Bacoor and Kawit will be affected by the maintenance as one lane has to be closed at a time.

For the morning rush hour, there will be 4 lanes open for Manila-bound motorists, while 3 lanes will be open for Cavite-bound vehicles.

Image from Cavitex Infrastructure Corporation

Image from Cavitex Infrastructure Corporation

LRT1 Cavite Extension

There will also be construction works for the LRT1 Cavite Extension, which will affect the Parañaque Bridge area. The Pacific Drive entry to Cavitex will be closed from March 15 to May 31. Motorists will be diverted to the MIA Intersection instead.

Image from Cavitex Infrastructure Corporation

Image from Cavitex Infrastructure Corporation

C5 Link segments ready by Q2 2022

Cavitex Infrastructure Corporation, a subsidiary of Manuel Pangilinan-led Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation, said on Tuesday, February 23, that two segments of the C5 Link Expressway (formerly called C5 South Link) is eyed for completion in the 2nd quarter of 2022.

Segment 2, a 1.9-kilometer expressway, will run from Cavitex to the proposed interchange at Segment 3A-2 in Sucat. Segment 3A-2, a subsection of Segment 3, is a 1.6-kilometer expressway from Merville to RSG Subdivision in Parañaque City.

Image from Cavitex Infrastructure Corporation

Ground improvement and bridge substructure works are ongoing for Segment 2. Roadway works already began for Segment 3A-2, while drainage structure builds are also ongoing.

Based on the timeline shown to reporters on Tuesday, construction for Segment 3A-2 is targeted to be completed by December 2021, while Segment 2 will take a little longer, until the 2nd quarter of 2022.

Hipol said traffic flow along Cavitex will also be affected because of the segment builds. From February 8 to August 2021, a ramp will be constructed along the Manila-bound lane.

Image from Cavitex Infrastructure Corporation

Image from Cavitex Infrastructure Corporation

Another ramp will also be constructed near the Parañaque toll plaza to Manila. From March 20 to August 12, one lane will be closed in both northbound and southbound directions.

From July 17 to October 22, a girder will be installed for the ramp. The equipment will be used from 10 pm to 4 am and a 15-minute stop-and-go scheme will be implemented.

The C5 Link Expressway project is a 7.7-kilometer tollway which will connect Cavitex to C5, passing through the cities of Parañaque, Pasay, and Taguig. When the project is completed, it is eyed to decongested MIA Road, Roxas Boulevard, and other adjacent roads.

In 2019, the C5 Link flyover from Taguig to Merville was opened. – Rappler.com