Harbor Link Interchange

Major intersection in Valenzuela, Metro Manila

Road junction

Harbor Link Interchange

NLEX Harbor Link Interchange
Mindanao Interchange

Aerial view of the Harbor Link Interchange in 2018, looking east from NLEX Harbor Link.

Location
Valenzuela, Metro Manila, Philippines
Coordinates| 14°41′36.7″N 121°0′1.6″E﻿ / ﻿14.693528°N 121.000444°E﻿ / 14.693528; 121.000444
Roads at
junction|  AH 26 (E1) (North Luzon Expressway)
E5 (NLEX Harbor Link)
Construction
Type| Two-level cloverleaf interchange
Constructed| 2009–2010 by Leighton Contractors Asia Ltd
Opened| June 5, 2010 (2010-06-05)
Maintained by| Department of Public Works and Highways
NLEX Corporation
Tolls| Part of the open section of NLEX (see NLEX toll matrix)

The Harbor Link Interchange,[1] also known as the Mindanao Interchange and North Luzon Expressway Harbor Link Interchange (NLEX Harbor Link Interchange) and formerly known as the Smart Connect Interchange, is a two-level cloverleaf interchange in Valenzuela, Metro Manila, the Philippines which serves as the junction of North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) between its main segment and its Harbor Link project, particularly Segments 8.1 and 9, components of Circumferential Road 5 (C-5). Built as part of the 2.7-kilometer (1.7 mi) NLEX Segment 8.1 of the Harbor Link project extending the expressway to Mindanao Avenue,[2] which has since been incorporated into the C-5 system, it is the Philippines' largest cloverleaf interchange in terms of land area.[3]

## History

[edit]

NLEX southbound at Harbor Link Interchange

During the planning stages of Circumferential Road 5 (C-5), a planned interchange with the Manila North Expressway (now North Luzon Expressway) was in place as well.[4] Based on a 1980 feasibility study by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the proposed location of the interchange, then known as C-5/Manila North Expressway Interchange, was at MNEX's bend in Valenzuela.[5][6]

Construction of NLEX Segment 8.1, including the present-day Harbor Link Interchange on the same proposed site, broke ground on April 2, 2009,[7] with actual construction work beginning 19 days later.[8]

The entire segment was opened to traffic on June 5, 2010, with President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and Manuel V. Pangilinan, chairman of the Manila North Tollways Corporation, the concessionaire of the North Luzon Expressway, leading the inauguration along with Public Works and Highways Secretary Victor Domingo and high-ranking officials from Valenzuela.[9] With some 30,000 vehicles estimated to use the new road daily during its first year of operation,[8] since its opening it has helped to relieve traffic on the older Balintawak Interchange connecting Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) to NLEX,[10] which is three times smaller.[8]

Although the interchange was opened to traffic in 2010, it originally only carried traffic between Valenzuela and eastern Metro Manila via NLEX Segment 8.1, with the westbound ramps closed to traffic. Work on a connection between the interchange and western Metro Manila would only be realized with the construction of the 2.42-kilometer (1.50 mi) NLEX Segment 9 between the interchange and the MacArthur Highway in Karuhatan, which was opened on March 19, 2015.[11] A further extension from Karuhatan to the Port of Manila, known as NLEX Segment 10 or NLEX Harbor Link, was opened gradually from February 28, 2019 to June 15, 2020.[12][13]

On November 16, 2012,[14] Smart Communications bought the naming rights to the interchange, calling it Smart Connect Interchange until circa 2021.[15][16]

On June 21, 2021, 3181 saplings were planted at the interchange as part of a greening initiative led by NLEX Corporation, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, and House Deputy Speaker Eric Martinez (Valenzuela–2nd).[17]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "NLEX eyes construction of 2km extension to Quezon City by second half of the year". NLEX Corporation. June 27, 2021. Retrieved July 29, 2021.
2. ^ "NLEx-Mindanao Ave. road link in place by mid-year". GMA News and Public Affairs. January 13, 2010. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
3. ^ "MNTC ready to undertake NLEX-C5 road link proj". The Philippine Star. PhilStar Daily, Inc. April 30, 2012. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
4. ^ "Feasibility Study for Manila-Bataan Coastal Road and Its Related Roads (C-5 & C-6) Project, Volume IV: Appendix" (PDF). Japan International Cooperation Agency. Japan International Cooperation Agency : Government of the Philippines, Counterpart Study Team. March 1980. Retrieved April 7, 2024.
5. ^ "Feasibility Study for Manila-Bataan Coastal Road and Its Related Roads (C-5 & C-6) Project, Volume I & II" (PDF). Japan International Cooperation Agency. Japan International Cooperation Agency : Government of the Philippines, Counterpart Study Team. March 1980. Retrieved April 7, 2024.
6. ^ "Feasibility Study for Manila-Bataan Coastal Road and Its Related Roads (C-5 & C-6) Project, Summary & Recommendations" (PDF). Japan International Cooperation Agency. Japan International Cooperation Agency : Government of the Philippines, Counterpart Study Team. March 1980. Retrieved April 7, 2024.
7. ^ "MNTC starts construction of roads connecting NLEX from all directions". GMA News and Public Affairs. April 2, 2009. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
8. ^ a b c "NLEX's Segment 8.1 opens today, June 5" (Press release). Manila North Tollways Corporation. June 5, 2010. Archived from the original on June 20, 2010. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
9. ^ "PGMA inaugurates P2.1-B NLEX-Mindanao Avenue Link". Philippines News Agency. June 5, 2010. Archived from the original on August 29, 2016. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
10. ^ Reyes, Mary Ann L.L. (July 12, 2015). "Seamless travel". The Philippine Star. PhilStar Daily, Inc. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
11. ^ "NLEX's Segment 9 opens Thursday". ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs. March 18, 2015. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
12. ^ Unite, Betheena (February 28, 2020). "Harbor Link Segment 10 finally opens". Manila Bulletin. Archived from the original on February 28, 2019. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
13. ^ "NLEX opens latest Harbor Link section". CNN Philippines. June 15, 2020. Archived from the original on June 15, 2020. Retrieved June 15, 2020.
14. ^ Smart Communications [@LiveSmart] (November 16, 2012). "MOA signing for the SMART CONNECT Interchange. The largest cloverleaf in the Phil now sports a new name. http://twitpic.com/bdkqy1" (Tweet) - via Twitter.
15. ^ "Smart, MNTC, Voyager tie up for interactive mobile messaging" (Press release). Smart Communications. July 26, 2013. Retrieved July 8, 2016.
16. ^ NLEX Corporation [@NLEXexpressways] (November 19, 2021). "#NLEXTrafficUpdate November 19, 5:13pm" (Tweet). Retrieved June 24, 2023 - via Twitter. "NLEX Harbor Link Interchange (formerly Smart Connect Interchange) - approx. 5km build up"
17. ^ Pagulayan, Neil (June 25, 2021). "Rep. Martinez, NLEX and DENR lead green initiative at Harbor Link Interchange". Autocar Philippines. Retrieved June 27, 2023.

* v
* t
* e

Major roads in Metro Manila

| Expressway routes|

* E1/AH26
* North Luzon Expressway
* E2
* South Luzon Expressway (AH26)
* Metro Manila Skyway (AH26)
* C-5 Southlink Expressway
* Muntinlupa–Cavite Expressway
* E3
* Manila–Cavite Expressway
* E5
* North Luzon Expressway Harbor Link
* E6
* NAIA Expressway
* Unnumbered
* NLEX Connector

|

Highway routes|

| Primary roads|

* N1
* MacArthur Highway
* Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (AH26)
* Manila South Road
* N11
* Carlos P. Garcia Avenue
* Eulogio Rodriguez Jr. Avenue
* Bonny Serrano Avenue
* Katipunan Avenue
* N59
* Aurora Boulevard
* Marikina–Infanta Highway
* N60
* Ortigas Avenue
* N61
* Roxas Boulevard
* N62
* Elpidio Quirino Avenue
* Diego Cera Avenue
* N63
* Dr. A. Santos Avenue

|

Secondary roads|

* N118
* Maysan Road
* Paso de Blas Road
* Bagbaguin Road
* General Luis Street
* N120/AH26
* Samson Road
* General San Miguel Street
* C-4 Road
* Radial Road 10
* Mel Lopez Boulevard
* Bonifacio Drive
* Roxas Boulevard
* N127
* Quirino Highway
* N128
* Mindanao Avenue
* N129
* Congressional Avenue
* Luzon Avenue
* Tandang Sora Avenue
* Katipunan Avenue
* N130
* C-3 Road
* 5th Avenue
* Sergeant Rivera Street
* Gregorio Araneta Avenue
* N140
* C-2 Road
* Tayuman Street
* Lacson Avenue
* Nagtahan Street
* Quirino Avenue
* N141
* Tomas Claudio Street
* Valenzuela Street
* V. Mapa Street
* P. Sanchez Street
* Shaw Boulevard
* Pasig Boulevard
* Eulogio Rodriguez Jr. Avenue
* N142
* Pasig Boulevard Extension
* Dr. Sixto Antonio Avenue
* A. Mabini Street
* A. Luna Street
* Ramon Jabson Street
* M. Almeda Street
* General Luna Street
* M.L. Quezon Street
* Montillano Street
* N143
* General Santos Avenue
* N144
* Segment 1: Meralco Road
* Segment 2: Parañaque–Sucat Road
* N145
* Segment 1: Recto Avenue
* Segment 2: Osmeña Highway
* N150
* Rizal Avenue
* Ronquillo Street
* Carriedo Street
* Plaza Santa Cruz
* Padre Burgos Avenue
* N151
* Abad Santos Avenue
* N155
* Kalaw Avenue
* N156
* Plaza Dilao Road
* Quirino Avenue Extension
* United Nations Avenue
* N157
* Padre Faura Street
* N160
* North Luzon Expressway
* A. Bonifacio Avenue
* Blumentritt Road
* N161
* Blumentritt Road
* N162
* Dimasalang Street
* N170
* Commonwealth Avenue
* Elliptical Road
* Quezon Avenue
* España Boulevard
* Lerma Street
* Quezon Boulevard
* Padre Burgos Avenue
* Taft Avenue
* N171
* Segment 1: West Avenue
* Segment 2: Aurora Boulevard
* N172
* Timog Avenue
* N173
* North Avenue
* N174
* East Avenue
* N175
* University Avenue
* N180
* Finance Road
* Ayala Boulevard
* P. Casal Street
* Nepomuceno Street
* Legarda Street
* Magsaysay Boulevard
* Aurora Boulevard
* N181
* San Marcelino Street
* N182
* Romualdez Street
* N183
* V. Mapa Street
* N184
* Gilmore Avenue
* Granada Street
* Ortigas Avenue
* N185
* Bonny Serrano Avenue
* N190
* Gil Puyat Avenue
* Kalayaan Avenue
* M. Concepcion Avenue
* N191
* Kalayaan Flyover
* N192
* Andrews Avenue
* N193
* Domestic Road
* N194
* NAIA Road
* N195
* Ninoy Aquino Avenue
* N411
* Alabang–Zapote Road

Arterial routes|

* C-1
* C-2
* C-3
* C-4
* C-5
* C-6
* R-1
* R-2
* R-3
* R-4
* R-5
* R-6
* R-7
* R-8
* R-9
* R-10

Major interchanges|

* Balintawak Interchange
* C-5–Kalayaan Interchange
* C-5–Ortigas Interchange
* Estrella Flyover
* Harbor Link Interchange
* Kalayaan Flyover
* Magallanes Interchange
* Nagtahan Interchange
* Ortigas Interchange
* Sales Interchange

Bridges|

* Ayala Bridge
* Binondo–Intramuros Bridge
* Estrella–Pantaleon Bridge
* Guadalupe Bridge
* Jones Bridge
* Mabini Bridge
* MacArthur Bridge
* Makati–Mandaluyong Bridge
* Marcos Bridge
* Nagtahan Link Bridge
* Otis Bridge
* Quezon Bridge
* San Juan River Bridge
* Santa Monica–Lawton Bridge
* Zapote Bridge

Roundabouts|

* 11th World Scout Jamboree Memorial Rotonda
* Agrifina Circle
* Anda Circle
* Burgos Circle
* Elliptical Road
* Monumento
* Philippines–Thailand Friendship Circle
* Remedios Circle
* Welcome Rotonda

Planned|

* Laguna Lakeshore Expressway Dike
* North Luzon East Expressway
* North–South Harbor Bridge
* R-7 Expressway

Under construction|

* CAVITEX C-5 Link
* Southeast Metro Manila Expressway

Other roads in Metro Manila

| Capital District|

* Abad Santos Avenue
* Adriatico Street
* Blumentritt Road
* Bonifacio Drive
* Del Pilar Street
* Escolta Street
* España Boulevard
* Hidalgo Street
* Jose Laurel Street
* Kalaw Avenue
* Lacson Avenue
* Legarda Street
* Magsaysay Boulevard
* Mel Lopez Boulevard
* Mendiola Street
* Osmeña Highway
* Pablo Ocampo Street
* Padre Burgos Avenue
* Padre Faura Street
* Pedro Gil Street
* Quezon Boulevard
* Quirino Avenue
* Recto Avenue
* Rizal Avenue
* Roxas Boulevard
* Taft Avenue
* Tayuman Street
* United Nations Avenue
* Victorino Mapa Street

|

Eastern Manila District|

* Andres Bonifacio Avenue (Quezon City)
* Aurora Boulevard
* Balete Drive
* Batasan Road
* Batasan–San Mateo Road
* Betty Go-Belmonte Street
* Boni Avenue
* Bonny Serrano Avenue
* Commonwealth Avenue
* Congressional Avenue
* East Avenue
* Elliptical Road
* Fernando Poe Jr. Avenue
* Gilmore Avenue
* Granada Street
* Gregorio Araneta Avenue
* Julia Vargas Avenue
* Katipunan Avenue
* Meralco Avenue
* Mindanao Avenue
* North Avenue
* Ortigas Avenue
* Pioneer Street
* Quezon Avenue
* Regalado Highway
* Shaw Boulevard
* Sumulong Highway
* Tandang Sora Avenue
* Timog Avenue
* Tomas Morato Avenue
* West Avenue

Northern Manila District|

* 10th Avenue
* General Luis Street
* Governor Pascual Avenue
* Maysan Road
* North Bay Boulevard
* Paterio Aquino Avenue
* Samson Road

Southern Manila District|

* Alabang–Zapote Road
* Andrews Avenue
* Arnaiz Avenue
* Ayala Avenue
* Chino Roces Avenue
* Daang Hari
* Diego Cera Avenue
* Domestic Road
* Doña Soledad Avenue
* Dr. Santos Avenue
* Elpidio Quirino Avenue
* Gil Puyat Avenue
* Harrison Avenue
* J. P. Rizal Avenue
* Jose Diokno Boulevard
* Kalayaan Avenue
* Lawton Avenue
* Macapagal Boulevard
* Makati Avenue
* McKinley Road
* Nicanor Garcia Street
* Ninoy Aquino Avenue
* Paseo de Roxas
* South Avenue
* Tramo Street

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