The NLEX Corporation has announced that the first segment of the North Luzon Expressway-C5 Northlink will open soon. Construction on Section 1A, a 2km connecting Mindanao Avenue and Quirino Highway, is in its final stages as the work is 96% complete.
Finishing touches include the installation of concrete barriers and expansion joints, along with the completion of the on- and off-ramps at Quirino Highway. Section 1A is expected to accommodate about 11,000 vehicles a day, providing motorists with access to the greater NLEX system.
PHOTO BY NLEX Corporation
From Quirino Highway, drivers can enter the main NLEX expressway from Mindanao Avenue and head towards Central Luzon. They also gain easier access to the NLEX Connector, which can bring them towards Manila and Makati.
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At the same time, Section 1A gives motorists an alternative route for those driving between Quirino Highway and Mindanao Avenue. The new segment should also make it easier to reach surrounding areas in Quezon City.
PHOTO BY NLEX Corporation
Work for the upcoming section began in March 2025 and was originally supposed to finish by the first quarter of this year. It was built in collaboration with the China Road and Bridge Corporation, at an estimated cost of P2.2 billion.
This comes as the first stage in the larger 11.3km NLEX-C5 Northlink Project. Once fully complete, it will bridge Mindanao Avenue to C5, specifically around the University of the Philippines Diliman. End-to-end travel time is expected to take just eight minutes.