Harbor Link Interchange
{{Short description|Major intersection in Valenzuela, Metro Manila}}
{{Infobox road junction
|country=PHL
| name = Harbor Link Interchange
| maint = Department of Public Works and Highways
NLEX Corporation
| marker_image =
| image = Smart Connect Interchange aerial view.jpg
| image_caption = Aerial view of the Harbor Link Interchange in 2018, looking east from NLEX Harbor Link
| location = General T. De Leon and Parada, Valenzuela, Metro Manila, Philippines
| coord = {{Coord|14|41|36.7|N|121|0|1.6|E|display=title,inline}}
| roads = {{jct|country=PHL|AH|E1|name1=North Luzon Expressway}}
{{jct|country=PHL|E|5|name1=NLEX Harbor Link}}
| type = Two-level cloverleaf interchange
| const = 2009–2010
| contractor = Leighton Contractors Asia Ltd
| opened = {{start date|2010|6|5}}
| height =
| other_names = NLEX Harbor Link Interchange
Mindanao Interchange
| map =
| tolls = Part of the open section of NLEX (see NLEX toll matrix)
}}
The Harbor Link Interchange,{{cite news|url=https://nlex.com.ph/2021/06/27/nlex-eyes-construction-of-2km-extension-to-quezon-city-by-second-half-of-the-year/|title=NLEX eyes construction of 2km extension to Quezon City by second half of the year|date=June 27, 2021|website=NLEX Corporation|access-date=July 29, 2021}} 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, 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 {{convert|2.7|km|mi|sp=us|adj=on}} NLEX Segment 8.1 of the Harbor Link project extending the expressway to Mindanao Avenue,{{cite news | title=NLEx-Mindanao Ave. road link in place by mid-year | url=http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/181414/money/companies/nlex-mindanao-ave-road-link-in-place-by-mid-year | publisher=GMA News and Public Affairs | date=January 13, 2010 | access-date=July 8, 2016 }} which has since been incorporated into the C-5 system, it is the Philippines' largest cloverleaf interchange in terms of land area.{{cite news | title=MNTC ready to undertake NLEX-C5 road link proj | url=http://www.philstar.com/business/801660/mntc-ready-undertake-nlex-c5-road-link-proj | work=The Philippine Star | publisher=PhilStar Daily, Inc. | date=April 30, 2012 | access-date=July 8, 2016 }}
History
File:E5 expressway (Philippines) NLEX Segment 08.jpg
During the planning stages of Circumferential Road 5 (C-5), a planned interchange with the Manila North Expressway (now North Luzon Expressway) was also in place.{{cite web|url=https://openjicareport.jica.go.jp/pdf/10305167_01.pdf|title=Feasibility Study for Manila-Bataan Coastal Road and Its Related Roads (C-5 & C-6) Project, Volume IV: Appendix|date=March 1980|publisher=Japan International Cooperation Agency : Government of the Philippines, Counterpart Study Team|website=Japan International Cooperation Agency|accessdate=April 7, 2024}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://openjicareport.jica.go.jp/pdf/10305159_01.pdf|title=Feasibility Study for Manila-Bataan Coastal Road and Its Related Roads (C-5 & C-6) Project, Volume I & II|date=March 1980|publisher=Japan International Cooperation Agency : Government of the Philippines, Counterpart Study Team|website=Japan International Cooperation Agency|accessdate=April 7, 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://openjicareport.jica.go.jp/pdf/10305175.pdf|title=Feasibility Study for Manila-Bataan Coastal Road and Its Related Roads (C-5 & C-6) Project, Summary & Recommendations|date=March 1980|publisher=Japan International Cooperation Agency : Government of the Philippines, Counterpart Study Team|website=Japan International Cooperation Agency|accessdate=April 7, 2024}}
Construction of NLEX Segment 8.1, including the present-day Harbor Link Interchange on the same proposed site, broke ground on April 2, 2009,{{cite news | title= MNTC starts construction of roads connecting NLEX from all directions | url=http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/155326/money/companies/mntc-starts-construction-of-roads-connecting-nlex-from-all-directions | publisher=GMA News and Public Affairs | date=April 2, 2009 | access-date=July 8, 2016 }} with actual construction work beginning 19 days later.{{cite press release | title=NLEX's Segment 8.1 opens today, June 5 | url=http://www.mntc.com/media/news-20100605.htm | publisher=Manila North Tollways Corporation | date=June 5, 2010 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100620012926/http://www.mntc.com/media/news-20100605.htm | archive-date=June 20, 2010 | access-date=July 8, 2016 }}
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.{{cite news | title=PGMA inaugurates P2.1-B NLEX-Mindanao Avenue Link | url=http://balita.ph/2010/06/05/pgma-inaugurates-p2-1-b-nlex-mindanao-avenue-link/ | publisher=Philippines News Agency | date=June 5, 2010 | access-date=July 8, 2016 | archive-date=August 29, 2016 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160829035331/http://balita.ph/2010/06/05/pgma-inaugurates-p2-1-b-nlex-mindanao-avenue-link/ | url-status=dead }} With some 30,000 vehicles estimated to use the new road daily during its first year of operation, since its opening, it has helped to relieve traffic on the older Balintawak Interchange connecting Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) to NLEX,{{cite news | author=Reyes, Mary Ann L.L. | title=Seamless travel | url=http://www.philstar.com/business/2015/07/12/1475972/seamless-travel | work=The Philippine Star | publisher=PhilStar Daily, Inc. | date=July 12, 2015 | access-date=July 8, 2016 }} which is three times smaller.
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 {{convert|2.42|km|mi|sp=us|adj=on}} NLEX Segment 9 between the interchange and the MacArthur Highway in Karuhatan, which was opened on March 19, 2015.{{cite news | title=NLEX's Segment 9 opens Thursday | url=http://news.abs-cbn.com/business/03/18/15/nlexs-segment-9-opens-thursday | publisher=ABS-CBN News and Current Affairs | date=March 18, 2015 | access-date=July 8, 2016 }} 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.{{cite news |last=Unite |first=Betheena |date=February 28, 2020 |title=Harbor Link Segment 10 finally opens |url=https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/02/28/harbor-link-segment-10-finally-opens/ |work=Manila Bulletin |access-date=May 22, 2020 |archive-date=February 28, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190228172427/https://news.mb.com.ph/2019/02/28/harbor-link-segment-10-finally-opens/ |url-status=dead }}{{cite news|url=https://cnnphilippines.com/transportation/2020/6/15/NLEX-Harbor-Link-section-Quezon-City-Manila-port.html|title=NLEX opens latest Harbor Link section|work=CNN Philippines|date=June 15, 2020|access-date=June 15, 2020|archive-date=June 15, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200615115236/https://cnnphilippines.com/transportation/2020/6/15/NLEX-Harbor-Link-section-Quezon-City-Manila-port.html|url-status=dead}}
On November 16, 2012,{{Cite tweet | user=LiveSmart | author=Smart Communications | author-link=Smart Communications | number=269291417841573888 | date=November 16, 2012 | title=MOA signing for the SMART CONNECT Interchange. The largest cloverleaf in the Phil now sports a new name. http://twitpic.com/bdkqy1 }} Smart Communications bought the naming rights to the interchange, calling it Smart Connect Interchange until circa 2021.{{cite press release | title=Smart, MNTC, Voyager tie up for interactive mobile messaging | url=http://smart.com.ph/About/newsroom/press-releases/corporate/2013/07/26/smart-mntc-voyager-tie-up-for-interactive-mobile-messaging | publisher=Smart Communications | date=July 26, 2013 | access-date=July 8, 2016 }}{{Cite tweet |author= NLEX Corporation |author-link=NLEX Corporation |user= NLEXexpressways|number=1461626714191110149 |date=November 19, 2021 |title=#NLEXTrafficUpdate November 19, 5:13pm |script-title= |trans-title= |language= |retweet= |location= |access-date=June 24, 2023 |link= |quote="NLEX Harbor Link Interchange (formerly Smart Connect Interchange) - approx. 5km build up" |ref=}}
On June 21, 2021, 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), 3181 saplings were planted at the interchange.{{cite news|url=https://autocar.com.ph/rep-martinez-nlex-and-denr-lead-green-initiative-at-harbor-link-interchange/|title=Rep. Martinez, NLEX and DENR lead green initiative at Harbor Link Interchange|date=June 25, 2021|accessdate=June 27, 2023|first=Neil|last=Pagulayan|website=Autocar Philippines}}