R8 - North Luzón Expressway

[absent-minded]

so Balintawak to Sta. Rita (38.4km, according to PNCC's site) is 4-lanes going each direction and the rest (around another 40km) 4-lanes with two for each southbound and northbound, right? cool...

I came across an old Manila Bulletin (way back Nov 2003) today and saw two renderings - one of the Balintawak toll plaza and another one somewhere with two rotondas in the interchange (I'll go and check tomorrow). the balintawak toll plaza was huge - 16 gates, according to the caption. pretty much as big as that one pau_p1 posted.

@pau_p1 - in that second to the last pic, has the road already been poured with asphalt (around the toll plaza)? looks a bit uneven, but I can't tell if it's just mud as in the last shot.... the first pics look real good... imo, as good as any expressway should be. btw, how was the road? this guy here says it's a bit "wavy" when you switch lanes and stuff - unlike many other people who've been impressed with the upgrades. is there still much traffic at this stage of the construction? how fast were you able to go?

[SunKing]

here are basically similar pictures

The vending machine:


Two lanes:


Three lanes:


Four lanes:


Candaba south has already been stripped bare of the asphalt and the conditions there are absolutely the worst but the North section has already been rehabilitated, at least that was told, I was asleep, I didn't have first-hand knowledge, haha. On the southbound part of the expressway, the only traffic I experienced was at the on-ramp in San Fernando and the line at the men's room at Petron. All-in-all, the expressway is outstanding and if you've got a powerful vehicle, you can really go very fast, but once the expressway is done, I think everyone will have to abide by the 100/60 kph rule.

[absent-minded]

nice...!! the gov't should actually think about painting lines on all roads at least two lanes wide. I mean, parts of EDSA and Quezon Ave. have them but they just suddenly disappear and then reappear every now and then. it seems as if painting roads is a waste of paint and money to the gov't. the swerving and siksikan of the cars along these highways are one of the major factors that cause traffic. as are potholes and worn out concrete that pop up all over EDSA and Araneta. everyone has to slow down or swerve to avoid them and that is the main reason why these huge arteries are always so slow moving... I wonder how much it would cost to cover up EDSA with asphalt... long overdue already...

[renell]

lol, same goes for the SLEX extension into manila.

NLEX, like SLEX, is now very smooth. before, going 100kmh meant it would be bumpy, and noisy. now 110kmh is a smooth ride in a starex

[absent-minded]

Originally Posted by renell

lol, same goes for the SLEX extension into manila.

what do you mean....?

has the SLEX been rehabilitated already? I've never been the entire length, but most of the parts I've been on seem to be smooth and quite new - mostly asphalted, I think. when did it go through rehab/upgrading?

[renell]

no the part from Buendia to Quirino, it's just horrible.

[absent-minded]

oh... hehehe... where's quirino? is that north or south of buendia?? the NLEX goes to tagatay, right? or is that some other expressway? we were supposed to go for lunch there today, but didn't push through...

[apiong]

fyi: the south luzon tollway officially starts from the Alabang interchange all the way to Calamba exit...

while the stretch from Magallanes interchange all the way to Quirino Ave. is named Pres. Osmena Highway (formerly the South Super Highway)

[absent-minded]

oh... so the SLEX is still in good shape...?

[renell]

the Manila-Cavite Coastal Road goes up to Tagaytay. NLEX goes up north, Tagaytay is in the South :laughs:

apiong said it right. but i have a question. how about the stretch from Magallanes interchange to Alabang? what is that called?

[SunKing]

I thought the entire stretch from Magallanes to Alabang was the South Superhighway.

[JudeD]

Isn't the Magallanes to Alabang section part of the Skyway jursidiction, including the at-grade highway? There's even a sign in Magallanes saying "You are now entering the Metro Manila Skyway, a project of Citra & PNCC, etc."

[SunKing]

I read that it is a part of Skyway.

[renell]

oh right. ironic that it is part of skyway when most of the Bicutan and Sucat stretch has no skyway at all right now

anyways, here are some pics i took in NLEX

the new San Simon interchange

[renell]

one last pic i forgot to post

[absent-minded]

nice... I like the modern, curved design of the new toll plazas... just a bit simple - especially the roof, but who cares? it's a freakin toll plaza, hehehe...! the huge, loooong ones look real cool though...! was this when you were in Manila last (last?) month...?

[absent-minded]

what's that white building???

[renell]

no idea. but i guess it has to be of NLEX's use... and yes i did take that during my trip to Manila.

[ryanr]

Awesome photos...NLEX seems like its up to world standards now. Much improved from before. Toll booths look modern and the roading is smooth. Multiple lanes will greatly improve traffic.

[renell]

the only thing is that it will be very expensive. but this could be worthwhile, provided it is very efficient