NAIA Expressway commissioned-
The Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Expressway is one of the priority projects of the Republic of the Philippines under its PPP Programme (build-operate-transfer law). In November 2010, the Philippine government launched an aggressive programme for public-private partnerships (PPPs) in order to develop much-needed infrastructure to support the objective of sustained and inclusive economic growth.
The project is one of the important components of the Metro Manila Urban Expressway System that is intended to facilitate the efficient flow of existing and future traffic to and from the country’s major international and domestic airports, the NAIA Complex, and link two major expressways serving Metro Manila. It was conceived to provide fast and reliable access to the three NAIA terminals (Terminals 1, 2 and 3) and connect the South Luzon Expressway/Skyway with the Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway/Roxas Boulevard, the gateway to the reclamation area.
Project implementation
The NAIA Expressway was implemented to support the viability of Metro Manila, which is considered a primary engine of growth in the Philippines. The prime objective behind the project was to ensure faster mobility of people and goods in the area and reduce the cost of vehicular operation and shorten travel time.
The project was implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). The DPWH is primarily responsible for planning, classification, design, construction, operation, maintenance and supervision of all public works and infrastructure facilities, particularly national roads and highways.
The DPWH appointed the Japan International Cooperation Agency to provide assistance in updating the feasibility study of the project. Further, the DPWH engaged the Development Bank of Philippines and the International Finance Corporation (IFC), an affiliate of the World Bank, as lead transaction advisers to develop, structure and assist it in the conduct of the competitive tender for the project. IFC, in turn, hired LeighFisher (expressway technical specialist), Hogan Lovells, Singapore (international legal consultants), and local lawyers to support the work of the advisors.
The NAIA Expressway was implemented in two phases. Phase I of the project was implemented as the conventional public project to provide easier access to NAIA terminal 3. The plan for Phase I construction was envisioned in line with the construction of NAIA Terminal 3. Construction work on Phase I of the project and its related roads started in 2003 and was completed in 2010.
NAIA Expressway Phase I is an elevated expressway that runs from the Metro Manila Skyway to Sales Road near NAIA Terminal 3. It was funded directly by the national government and implemented by the DPWH in six separate construction contracts grouped into four packages.
NAIA Expressway Phase II is an extension of Phase I. Phase II aims to provide easier access to NAIA terminals, which are the international gateways to the Philippines; to reduce congestion on roads leading to NAIA terminals; and to connect the NAIA Expressway with the existing skyway, the Manila-Cavite coastal expressway, and the proposed North Luzon Expressway-South Luzon Expressway (SLEx) connector expressway, among others.
Phase II included the extension of the NAIA Expressway to Roxas Boulevard in Paranaque City via Andrews Avenue, Domestic Road and NAIA Road. It involved the construction of a four-lane, 7.75 km elevated expressway and 2.22 km at-grade feeder road to provide access to NAIA Terminals 1, 2 and 3 and link the skyway and the Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway. It starts at the existing skyway and then follows the existing road alignments over Sales Avenue, Andrews Avenue, Domestic Road and NAIA Road. It has entry/exit ramps at Roxas Boulevard, Macapagal Boulevard, and PAGCOR City. Overall, the scope of work for Phase II included the construction of an elevated expressway, construction of at-grade feeder roads leading to/from PAGCOR Entertainment City and operation and maintenance of the expressway.
The contract for Phase II was awarded
to Optimal Infrastructure Development, Inc. (a subsidiary of Conglomerate San Miguel Corporation [SMC]) on a build-transfer-operate basis with a concession period of 30 years including the construction period. SMC Vertex Tollways Development, Inc. (VTDI) undertook the construction work on Phase II of the project. Phase II was implemented in two parts – Phase IIA and Phase IIB.
In May 2012, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) approved PhP 15.86 billion as the cost of Phase II of the project. However, the cost was later revised to PhP 17.93 billion.
On September 22, 2016, the second phase of the airport expressway from Macapagal Boulevard to NAIA Terminals 1, 2 and 3 was opened to all motorists and airport passengers. Subsequently, on December 21, 2016, the Entertainment City-NAIA Road-SLEx-Skyway segment (including the access ramp connecting to Terminal 3) of the airport expressway was opened to all motorists. Following this, on December 28, 2016, the access ramps to the Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway was also opened to all motorists coming from the province of Cavite and Las Pinas for easier access to Terminals 1, 2 and 3 and vice versa.
Overall, the expressway is expected to cut down travel time to the NAIA from Alabang, Makati and towns/cities north or south of Metro Manila and will greatly benefit frequent travellers, overseas Filipino workers, businessmen and even local and foreign tourists using both international and domestic airports.
