After months of construction, the first phase of the Cavite Laguna Expressway (CALAX) is finally open to the public.
The formal opening was graced by no less then Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark Villar, who has high hopes for this new road connecting Mamplasan in Binan, Laguna to the Santa Rosa-Tagaytay Interchange.
The first section alone is expected to cut travel time by at least 10 minutes from the usual 45-minute trek motorists take for this portion.
At launch, CALAX will be a one-lane road with two access points—Mamplasan for westbound motorists and Santa Rosa-Tagaytay Interchange for eastbound traffic.
But as mentioned, this is only the beginning.
The entire CALAX project, which is being undertaken together with Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation, is designed to connect CAVITEX in Kawit, Cavite to the South Luzon Expressway vi Mamplasan in Binan, Laguna. Once complete, the 4-lane highway will have 8 interchanges, namely, Kawit, Imus Open Canal, Governor’s Drive, Aguinaldo Highway, Silang, Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay, Laguna Blvd., Technopark, and a Toll Barrier before SLEX.
Moreover, it will boast tech features such as Automatic License Plate Recognition for barrierless entry and exit, as well as Speed Detection Cameras and High Definiton CCTV cameras for safe travel, even at night.
Speaking of travel, CALAX operations began on October 30 and will be open from Monday to Thursday from 6am to 6pm and from Fridays to Sundays from 6am to 10pm.
This will only be until December, however, to allow for the said stretch to be completed. Once done, it will operate on a 24-hur basis.
