Motorists traveling to Quezon City may soon have another route option as the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX)-C5 Northlink project moves closer to completion.
NLEX Corporation reported that the two-kilometer elevated expressway connecting Mindanao Avenue to Quirino Highway in Quezon City had reached 96% completion as of October 2026, with construction nearing its final stages.
The remaining work includes installing concrete barriers and expansion joints, completing the eastbound and westbound ramps along Quirino Highway, and finishing other civil works before the segment can open to motorists.
Once operational, the new section is expected to provide an alternative to Mindanao Avenue, improving access between Quezon City and the NLEX network. Motorists entering through Quirino Highway will be able to connect to NLEX, with onward routes toward Central and Northern Luzon or the NLEX Connector leading to Manila, the University Belt, and Makati.
The segment is projected to accommodate approximately 11,000 vehicles daily and will operate 24 hours a day for all vehicle classes, according to NLEX Corporation.
For safety and traffic management, the elevated expressway will feature closed-circuit television (CCTV) cameras, speed management systems, electronic toll collection technology, roadway lighting, traffic signs, pavement markings, and protective barriers.
The two-kilometer stretch is part of the larger 11.3-kilometer NLEX-C5 Northlink project, which aims to extend the expressway from Mindanao Avenue toward C5/C.P. Garcia near Katipunan Avenue, strengthening road connectivity between Metro Manila and Central and Northern Luzon.
While the first section is nearing completion, motorists will have to await its official opening before using the new route.