Cavite–Laguna Expressway

The Cavite–Laguna Expressway (also known as CALAX[3][4][5] and CALAEX) is an under-construction expressway, whose alignment is situated in the provinces of Cavite and Laguna in the Philippines. The construction of the four-lane 44.63-kilometer-long (27.73 mi) expressway, which will connect CAVITEx in Kawit, Cavite to SLEX–Mamplasan Interchange in Biñan, will cost an estimated ₱35.43 billion.[1] When fully constructed, it is expected to ease traffic in the Cavite–Laguna area, particularly along Aguinaldo Highway, Santa Rosa–Tagaytay Road, and Governor's Drive.[6]

Cavite–Laguna Expressway
CALAX
CALAEX
Map of expressways in Luzon, with Cavite–Laguna Expressway marked in orange
Route information
Maintained by MPCALA Holdings Incorporated
Length44.63 km[1] (27.73 mi)
Includes the currently operational 10 km (6.2 mi) Laguna segment
Existed2019–present
Restrictions
  • Motorcycles below 400cc[2]
Major junctions
West end N420 (Santa Rosa–Tagaytay Road) in Santa Rosa, Laguna
East end E2 / AH26 (South Luzon Expressway) in Biñan
Future
North end E3 (Manila–Cavite Expressway) in Kawit, Cavite
Major
junctions
Location
ProvincesCavite and Laguna
Major citiesImus, Dasmariñas, General Trias, Biñan, and Santa Rosa
TownsKawit and Silang
Highway system
  • Roads in the Philippines

History
First CALAX logo. Still used alternatively.
Construction of viaduct section along Nuvali Boulevard in Santa Rosa (May 2018)

Construction and groundbreaking
CALAEx logo variant. Also used alternatively.

There were four pre-qualified bidders vying for CALAX: Alloy MTD Philippines Inc.; Team Orion, the consortium of AC Infrastructure Holdings Inc., AboitizLand, Inc., and Macquarie Infrastructure Holdings Philippines; MPCALA Holdings Inc.; and Optimal Infrastructure Development Inc. of San Miguel Corporation.[7]

On June 12, 2014, Team Orion, the joint venture of Ayala Corporation and Aboitiz Equity Ventures, won the bid, placing a concession payment of ₱11.659 billion for the public-private partnership (PPP) project. Optimal Infrastructure was disqualified on grounds that its bid security fell short of the 180 days required by the government. Its bid envelope specified a financial bid of ₱20.105 billion .[8]

After a brief hiatus, the government decided to rebid the project to ensure that the government gets the best deal. MPCALA Holdings, the consortium led by Metro Pacific Investments Corporation won by submitting a concession premium of ₱27.3 billion to be paid to the government. This is higher to San Miguel's bid of ₱22.2 billion [9]

Groundbreaking of the project occurred on June 19, 2017, and right-of-way acquisition is continuing as of October 2017.[10] According to a statement by MPCALA Holdings President Luigi Bautista, construction of the Cavite portion of the expressway was expected to begin in April 2018.[11] The groundbreaking ceremony for the Cavite segment was eventually held in March 2019.[12][13][14] Meanwhile, the Department of Public Works and Highways, headed by Secretary Mark Villar, expected the Laguna segment to be opened by October 2019.[15] Currently, the Laguna segment is partially operational and the Cavite segment is still undergoing construction. Both segments are expected to be fully operational and completed by 2022, according to Villar in another statement.[16]

Partial opening (Laguna segment)

The first 10 kilometers of the expressway has been made accessible on October 30, 2019, in time for All Saints' Day and All Souls' Day. The entry and exit points at Mamplasan Interchange in Biñan, Laguna and Santa Rosa–Tagaytay Road were opened to serve an estimated 10,000 cars. According to DPWH Secretary Mark Villar, this will cut travel time from 45 minutes to just 10 minutes.[17][18] However, the segment was supposed to be operational back in December 2018 or by February 2019.[19]

On August 18, 2020, the Laguna Technopark and Laguna Boulevard Exits in Biñan and Santa Rosa, respectively, were opened to the public.[20]

Technical specifications
  • Name: Cavite–Laguna Expressway or CALAX
  • Concession holder: MPCALA Holdings Incorporated (Optimal Infrastructure Development, Inc.)
  • Operator: MPCALA Holdings Incorporated (Optimal Infrastructure Development, Inc.)
  • Concession starting date: 2017
  • Concession ending date: 2052
  • Length: 44.63 kilometers (27.73 mi)
  • Highway exits: 9[1]
  • Lanes: 4 Lanes (2 Lanes each direction)
  • Toll plazas: 1
  • Rest and Service Areas: TBA
  • Minimum Height Clearance on Underpasses: 4 meters (13 ft)

Toll

Cavite–Laguna Expressway is a closed road system. From February 10, 2020, motorists pay a fixed toll rate at their respective exit points since there were initially two operational toll barriers on the first 10-kilometer (6.2 mi) segment of the new expressway: Mamplasan and Santa Rosa City.[21][22] The electronic toll collection (ETC) system on the expressway uses devices branded Easydrive and collections are done on mixed lanes at the toll barriers.

In accordance with law, all toll rates include a 12% value-added tax.

Class Toll
(Mamplasan to Santa Rosa)
Class 1
(Cars, Motorcycles, SUVs, Jeepneys)		 ₱47.00
Class 2
(Buses, Light Trucks)		 ₱95.00
Class 3
(Heavy Trucks)		 ₱193.00

Exits

Exits will be numbered by kilometer posts, with Rizal Park in Manila designated as kilometer zero. 

ProvinceCity/MunicipalitykmmiExitNameDestinationsNotes
CaviteKawitKawit N62 (Tirona Highway) / N64 (Antero Soriano Highway) – Bacoor, Kawit, Evo CityNorthern terminus; continues north as E3 (CAVITEX)
ImusOpen CanalOpen Canal Road – Imus, General Trias
General TriasGovernor's Drive N65 (Governor's Drive) – General Trias, Trece MartiresTrumpet interchange
SilangSilang West (Aguinaldo) N410 (Aguinaldo Highway) – Silang, DasmariñasTrumpet interchange
Silang EastTibig–Kaong Road / CTBEX – Tagaytay, Nasugbu, Silang, GMADiamond interchange
Sta. Rosa City N420 (Santa Rosa–Tagaytay Road) – Santa Rosa, TagaytayTrumpet interchange; current terminus
LagunaSanta RosaLaguna BoulevardNuvali Boulevard / South Boulevard – Laguna Technopark, Ayala Westgrove HeightsDiamond interchange
BiñanLaguna TechnoparkLaguna Boulevard – Laguna Technopark, CarmonaEastbound exit and westbound entrance
Greenfield toll plaza (electronic toll collection, cash payments)[23]
Greenfield ParkwayGreenfield Parkway – Greenfield City, Laguna TechnoparkEastbound exit only
Mamplasan E2 / AH26 (SLEX) / Greenfield Parkway / LIIP Avenue – Manila, Biñan, Calamba, LIIPRoundabout; south end of expressway
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

References
  1. "Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX)". PPP Center.
  2. "CALAX to begin charging toll". MotoPinas.com. February 10, 2020. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  3. "Construction of Cavite-Laguna Expressway on schedule". The Philippine Star. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
  4. "Work on Calax seen on track". BusinessMirror. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
  5. "Calax project ahead of schedule". Manila Standard. Retrieved November 16, 2019.
  6. "CALA Expressway – Laguna side section". Department of Public Works and Highways. Archived from the original on April 4, 2012. Retrieved April 17, 2012.
  7. "DPWH Meets Four Prequalified Bidders for ₱35.42-Billion CALAX Project". PPP Center.
  8. "Ayala-Aboitiz joint venture submits highest bid for CALAEX project". GMA News. Retrieved May 19, 2015.
  9. "Metro Pacific submits top bid for CALAX project". ABS-CBN News. May 26, 2015. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  10. "Cavite-Laguna (CALA) Expressway Project". DPWH PPP Center. Department of Public Works and Highways. Retrieved November 4, 2017.
  11. "Cavite toll road construction to start". The Manila Standard. April 9, 2018. Retrieved April 12, 2018.
  12. Marasigan, Lorenz S. "Calaex breaks ground for P12-billion Cavite segment". BusinessMirror. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
  13. Share; Twitter. "Construction of CALAEX begins". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
  14. Rey, Aika. "Construction of CALAEX Cavite segment starts". Rappler. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
  15. "DPWH says Laguna side of Calax finished by December". Manila Standard. Retrieved July 16, 2018.
  16. "CALAEX breaks ground for P12-B Cavite segment". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved March 29, 2019.
  17. Tuquero, Loreben (October 22, 2019). "Cavite-Laguna Expressway passable by October 30 – DPWH". Rappler. Retrieved October 23, 2019.
  18. Balinbin, Arjay L. (October 22, 2019). "Laguna section of CALAX due to open at end of October". BusinessWorld. Retrieved October 23, 2019.
  19. Paz, Chrisee Dela (February 8, 2018). "First phase of Cavite-Laguna Expressway to open in December". Rappler. Retrieved October 23, 2019.
  20. Abadilla, Emmie V. (August 18, 2020). "CALAX Laguna segment interchanges open today". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  21. "CALAX". Toll Regulatory Board. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
  22. Aquino, Roselle (February 7, 2020). "Cavite-Laguna Expressway to collect tolls starting Feb. 10". Philippine News Agency.
  23. CALAX INTERCHANGES NOW OPEN. CALAX. August 19, 2020. Retrieved August 22, 2020.
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