Philippine expressway network

{{see also|Philippine highway network}}

The Philippine highway network spans over {{convert|32000|km|mi|sp=us}} across all regions of the Philippines. These highways, however, are mostly single and dual carriageways with many U-turn lanes and intersections slowing down traffic. Coupled with the increase in the number of vehicles and the demand for limited-access highways, the Philippine government requested the government of Japan to conduct a master plan for the development of a high standard highway network in 2009 under the Philippine Medium-Term Public Investment Plan (2005–2010). The plan calls for the promotion of national integrity by strengthening the Philippine Nautical Highway System linking roads and ferries, the decongestion of traffic in Metro Manila, and the improvement of accessibility to main tourist spots, among others.

The Philippine expressway network master plan covers the development of high standard highways surrounding Metro Manila in Luzon, Metro Cebu in the Visayas, and the Metro Davao–General Santos area in Mindanao.

{{See also|Traffic law in the Philippines}}

The establishment of limited-access highways or expressways are provided and defined by Republic Act No. 2000 or the Limited Access Highway Act, signed on June 22, 1957. Through the act, the Department of Public Works and Highways is authorized to designate new or existing roads as limited-access highways and to regulate points of entry along these limited-access highways.{{Cite PH act|url=https://elibrary.judiciary.gov.ph/thebookshelf/showdocs/2/10736|chamber=RA|number=2000|date=June 22, 1957|title=Limited Access Highway Act}}

Traffic laws on expressways are defined by the Limited Access Highway Act and Department of Public Works and Communications (DPWC) Administrative Order No. 1 series of 1968.{{Cite PH act|url=https://www.dpwh.gov.ph/dpwh/sites/default/files/issuances/DO_123_S2001.pdf |chamber=AO|prefix=Department of Public Works and Communications|number=1|date=February 19, 1968|title=Revised Rules and Regulations Governing Limited Access Highways|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170809211830/https://www.dpwh.gov.ph/dpwh/sites/default/files/issuances/DO_123_S2001.pdf|archive-date=August 9, 2017}}

Standard traffic laws on all expressways based on the above laws include:

• Follow the rules and regulations of the Land Transportation and Traffic Code;
• Follow the minimum speed limit and maximum speed limit, except when on accelerating or deaccelerating lanes;
• Slow moving vehicles must stay on the right lane;
• When overtaking other vehicles, the left lane must be used as a passing lane;

While traveling along the expressway, vehicles are prohibited from:

• Entering or exiting an expressway into abutting lands or roads outside of designated access points;
• Driving a vehicle over or across the median strip;
• Making a left turn or u-turn except where explicitly allowed;
• Lane splitting, lane sharing, or lane filtering (including motorcycles);
• Stopping, loading, or unloading a vehicle outside of service areas;
• Making repairs to vehicles on travel lanes;
• Conducting or holding rallies, parades, funeral processions, and the like;

The following conveyances are prohibited on all expressways in the Philippines:

• Two-wheeled motorcycles with an engine displacement below {{Convert|400|cc|sp=us}};{{Cite PH act|url=https://drive.google.com/file/d/115ac82pf-0Zvt-Z8CeTE6NJt_r0khimH/view|chamber=DO|number=2007-038|prefix=DOTC|date=October 4, 2007|title=Rules and Regulations Governing the Use of Limited Access Facilities (Expressways) by Motorcycles}}
• Three-wheeled motorcycles with an engine displacement below {{Convert|600|cc|sp=us}};{{Cite PH act|url=https://drive.google.com/file/d/115ac82pf-0Zvt-Z8CeTE6NJt_r0khimH/view|chamber=DO|number=2021-006|prefix=DOTr|date=February 24, 2021|title=Supplemental Rules and Regulations Governing the Use of Limited Access Facilities (Expressways) by Motorcycles}}
• Jaywalking, loitering, or travelling on foot;
• Riding or herding animals;
• Riding a bicycle, tricycle, pedicab, or any unmotorized vehicle;
• Driving any vehicle or equipment with an overall height exceeding {{Convert|14|ft|m|sp=us}} or incapable of traveling at the minimum speed limit;
• Putting any stickers, posters, and tarpaulins within the expressway premises, including those used during elections;

High standard highways in the Philippines are classified into two types: the arterial high standard highways or expressways, and regional high standard highways.

===Controlled-access highways or Expressways (HSH-1)===

Arterial high standards highways (HSH-1) in the Philippines are known as expressways. They are highways with controlled-access, normally with interchanges and may include facilities for levying tolls for passage in an open or closed system.{{cite web|url=http://www.dpwh.gov.ph/down/atlas/2015%20DPWH%20Road%20Data/Road%20Data%202015/Road%20WriteUp.pdf |title=Brief History of National Roads in the Philippines |publisher=Department of Public Works and Highways |access-date=May 15, 2017}} Standard features of Philippine expressways include guard rails, rumble strips, signs and pavement markings, solid wall fence, speed radars, toll plaza, closed-circuit television and rest and service areas. The speed limit is {{convert|100|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} for cars and jeepneys, {{convert|80|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} for trucks and buses, and {{convert|60|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} is the minimum for all classes of vehicles.

File:MMSkyway.jpg

The first expressways in the Philippines are the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), both of which were built in the late 1960s.{{cite news|last1=Abecilla|first1=Victor|date=November 3, 2015|title=Practical solutions to Metro Manila|agency=The Standard|url=http://thestandard.com.ph/opinion/columns/hail-to-the-chair-by-victor-avecilla/190949/practical-solutions-to-metro-manila-s-woes.html|access-date=January 17, 2016}} The first elevated toll road in the Philippines is the Skyway, with its construction consisting of numerous sections called "stages". Its latest section, Stage 3, was completed in 2021.{{cite news|date=January 13, 2021|title=Skyway Stage 3 to officially open on January 15|work=CNN Philippines|url=https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2021/1/13/Skyway-Stage-3-open--January-15.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210113110925/https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2021/1/13/Skyway-Stage-3-open--January-15.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=January 13, 2021}} The Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR) Tollway, from Santo Tomas to Lipa in Batangas was opened in 2001 and was extended in 2008. The Subic–Clark–Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), the longest tollway in the Philippines was opened in 2008, setting the stage for the development of the Tarlac–Pangasinan–La Union Expressway (TPLEX), which would extend beyond the SCTEX' northern terminus in Tarlac City. The TPLEX was opened in 2013. The Cavite–Laguna Expressway (CALAX), another expressway in Southern Luzon, was partially opened on October 30, 2019.{{Cite news|last=Tuquero|first=Loreben|date=October 22, 2019|title=Cavite-Laguna Expressway passable by October 30 – DPWH|language=en|work=Rappler|url=http://www.rappler.com/business/243133-cavite-laguna-expressway-passable-october-2019|access-date=October 23, 2019}} The Central Luzon Link Expressway (CLLEX) was partially opened on July 15, 2021.{{Cite news|last=Aguilar|first=Krissy|date=July 15, 2021|title=First 18 km of 30-km Central Luzon Link Expressway opens|newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer|url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1460185/first-18-km-of-30-km-central-luzon-link-expressway-opens|access-date=July 15, 2021}}

There are many under construction and proposed expressways in the Philippines. All the expressways in the Philippines are privately maintained under concession agreements either with the Department of Public Works and Highways or the Toll Regulatory Board through build–operate–transfer (BOT) arrangements. At present, there are 15 expressways in the Philippines that connect Metro Manila to northern and southern Luzon and 1 expressway in Metro Cebu.

Regional high standard highways in the Philippines are multi-lane arterial roads with bypass, grade separation and/or frontage road. They connect the expressways and are mostly partial controlled-access highways. Their design speed is {{convert|80|-|100|km/h|mph|abbr=on}} for inter-urban regional highways and {{convert|60|km/h|mph|sp=us}} for intra-urban highways.

Under the implementation of a route numbering system commissioned by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on 2014, expressways are signed with yellow pentagonal signs with black numerals. They are prefixed with the letter "E" for "Expressway" to distinguish them from national highways. Expressways numbers are assigned sequentially and continuously.

The Philippine expressway network is currently consisting of six discontinuous network of expressways, all of which are located in the island of Luzon.{{cite web|url=http://www.dpwh.gov.ph/dpwh/atlas/2015%20DPWH%20Road%20Data/Road%20Data%202015/roads%201.htm|title=2015 DPWH Road Data|publisher=Department of Public Works and Highways|access-date=May 15, 2017}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.dpwh.gov.ph/dpwh/gis|title=Road and Bridge Inventory|website=www.dpwh.gov.ph|access-date=June 14, 2020}}

Most of the expressways implement tolls, usually of the closed road and barrier toll systems. On expressways roads using closed road tolling, motorists first get a card or ticket at the entry point and surrender them upon exit. On expressways implementing barrier tolling, toll collection is done at toll plazas on a fixed rate. Some expressways employ a hybrid system that includes both, like the North Luzon Expressway, which uses both barrier ("open system") and closed road tolling.

Electronic toll collection (ETC) is first implemented on the Skyway and South Luzon Expressway, using transponder technology branded E-Pass. ETC systems are implemented by some toll road operators, with inter-running support on other connected expressways. Toll plazas or toll gates have ETC lanes on the leftmost lanes or on "mixed" lanes, that allow cash collection, or both. Latest ETC systems use radio frequency identification (RFID) technology over transponder technology for collection. Having different ETC systems that are not supported on other roads, a plan for a unified ETC system is promoted for motorists' convenience. Cashless toll collections on all expressways are on a dry run since 2023,{{cite news|url=https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/01/09/24/one-rfid-to-rule-all-tollways-full-cashless-payments-eyed|title=One RFID to rule all tollways, elimination of cash lanes eyed this year|first=Johnson|last=Manabat|accessdate=January 20, 2024|date=January 9, 2024|work=ABS-CBN News}} aiming for full implementation in 2025.{{Cite web |last1=Valmonte |first1=Kaycee |title=Cashless toll collection to be implemented by March 15 |url=https://www.rappler.com/business/cashless-toll-collection-implementation-date-march-15/ |website=Rappler |date=February 16, 2025 |access-date=February 16, 2025}}

{{As of|June 2024}}, the toll rates by expressway are as follows:

Additionally, since June 1, 2024, the Agri-Trucks Toll Rebate Program is implemented to exempt vehicles carrying agricultural products from toll increases on expressways, aiming to ease inflation on these goods. For SMC Tollways-operated expressways such as SLEX and MCX, the average rebate ranges from {{Philippine peso|2}} to {{Philippine peso|30}}. Meanwhile, Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation-operated expressways such as NLEX, SCTEX, and CAVITEX offer rebates ranging from {{Philippine peso|16}} to {{Philippine peso|156}}. Both rates depend on the vehicle class, with the latter depending on the distance travelled as well.{{cite news|url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/money/economy/908731/agri-truckers-toll-rebate-comes-into-effect-on-saturday/story/|title=Agri truckers toll rebate comes into effect on Saturday|date=June 1, 2024|publisher=GMA Integrated News|accessdate=June 6, 2024}}

Three components of the expressway network or the High Standard Highway Network are the Luzon Spine Expressway Network (LSEN), the Visayas Spine Expressway Network (VSEN), and the Mindanao Spine Expressway Network (MSEN). It is a planned network of interconnected expressways within the islands of Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao. It is part of the Build! Build! Build! Infrastructure Plan of DuterteNomics{{Cite news |date=January 27, 2021 |title=Luzon Spine Expressway: A road network eyed to shorten travel time between La Union and Bicol to 9 hours |language=en-US |url=https://mb.com.ph/2021/01/27/luzon-spine-expressway-a-road-network-eyed-to-shorten-travel-time-between-la-union-and-bicol-to-9-hours/ |access-date=January 28, 2021}} and the Build Better More of Bongbong Marcos.{{Citation needed|date=May 2023}}

In addition to the following expressways:

• Cavite–Laguna Expressway (CALAX)
• CAVITEX–C-5 Link
• Cebu–Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX)
• Central Luzon Link Expressway (CLLEX)
• Manila–Cavite Expressway (CAVITEX)
• Muntinlupa–Cavite Expressway (MCX)
• NAIA Expressway (NAIAX)
• NLEX Connector
• NLEX Harbor Link
• North Luzon Expressway (NLEX)
• Skyway
• South Luzon Expressway (SLEX)
• Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR Tollway)
• Subic Freeport Expressway (SFEX)
• Subic–Clark–Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX)
• Tarlac–Pangasinan–La Union Expressway (TPLEX)
• Central Luzon Link Expressway (CLLEX) (Phase 2: Aliaga to San Jose)
• NLEX Connector (España to Sta. Mesa)
• NLEX Harbor Link (Segment 8.2)
• Plaridel Bypass Road
• C-5 Expressway
• CAVITEX–C-5 Link (Segments 2 and 3B

New expressways will be built as well, such as:

• Cavite–Batangas Expressway (CBEX){{Cite web |last=lkyu0285 |date=2023-08-15 |title=MPTC and SMC ink deal for Cavite-Batangas, Nasugbu-Bauan Expressways |url=https://www.rappler.com/business/mptc-smc-cavite-batangas-nasugbu-bauan-expressways/ |access-date=2024-05-28 |website=RAPPLER |language=en-US}}
• Cavite–Laguna Expressway (CALAX) (Kawit to Silang West)
• Cebu Trans-Axial Expressway
• Central Mindanao High Standard Highway (Cagayan de Oro–Malaybalay Section)
• Dalton Pass East Alignment Road{{Cite web |date=2024-04-04 |title=Luzon gets a fast lane: Philippines secures P37 billion loan for Dalton Pass East Alignment Road |url=https://bilyonaryo.com/2024/04/04/luzon-gets-a-fast-lane-philippines-secures-p37-billion-loan-for-dalton-pass-east-alignment-road/business/ |access-date=2024-05-30 |language=en-US}}
• Davao City Expressway (DAVEX)
• Davao–Digos Expressway
• Ilocos Norte-Ilocos Sur-Cordillera-Cagayan-Isabela Expressway (INISCCIEX)
• Iloilo-Capiz-Aklan Expressway Project (ICAEX)
• Laguna Lakeshore Expressway Dike (LLED)
• Lapu Lapu Expressway (LLEX)
• Manila–Bataan Coastal Road Extension
• Manila–Cavite Expressway (CAVITEX) (Segment 5 and Sangley Point Extension)
• Manila–Quezon Expressway (MQEX)
• Metro Cebu Expressway (MCE, METCEBEX)
• Misamis Oriental Expressway (MISOREX)
• Naawan–Opol–Cagayan De Oro City–Villanueva Expressway
• NAIA Expressway (NAIAX) (BGC to Sales Interchange)
• Nasugbu–Bauan Expressway (NBEX){{Cite web |title=The Philippine Stock Exchange, Inc. Disclosure Department |url=https://www.sanmiguel.com.ph/storage/files/reports/PSE-SMC-Batangas%20to%20build%20P45B%20expressway%20(03.23.2023).pdf}}{{Cite web |last=lkyu0285 |date=2023-08-15 |title=MPTC and SMC ink deal for Cavite-Batangas, Nasugbu-Bauan Expressways |url=https://www.rappler.com/business/mptc-smc-cavite-batangas-nasugbu-bauan-expressways/ |access-date=2024-05-28 |website=RAPPLER |language=en-US}}
• North Eastern Luzon Expressway (NELEX)
• North Luzon East Expressway (NLEE){{Cite news|url=https://www.thesummitexpress.com/2018/01/luzon-spine-expressway-duterte-traffic-decongestion-plan.html|title=WATCH: Luzon Spine Expressway Network is Duterte's P107-billion traffic decongestion plan|last=Admin|work=The Summit Express|access-date=August 25, 2018}}
• North Luzon Expressway (Phase 3 and Sta. Ines Extension)
• Northern Access Link Expressway (NALEX){{Cite news|title=TRB approves expressway linking Skyway Stage 3 to Bulacan airport |url=https://www.topgear.com.ph/news/motoring-news/northern-access-link-expressway-trb-approval-a4354-20220623 |first=Leandre |last=Grecia |access-date=February 14, 2023 |website=Top Gear Philippines |date=June 23, 2022 |language=en}}
• Pangasinan Link Expressway (PLEX){{Cite news |last=Amojelar |first=Darwin |title=SMC signs deal on 76.8-km. Pangasinan Link Expressway |url=https://manilastandard.net/business/transport-tourism/314381625/smc-signs-deal-on-76-8-km-pangasinan-link-expressway.html |date=October 19, 2023 |newspaper=Manila Standard |access-date=October 20, 2023}}{{Cite news |last=Yparraguirre |first=Liwayway |title=Pangasinan Link Expressway phase 1 gets nod from prov'l board |url=https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1205323 |date=July 10, 2023 |work=Philippine News Agency |access-date=October 20, 2023}}
• R-7 Expressway
• Skyway Stage 7
• SLEX Toll Road 4 and 5{{Cite news|url=https://www.yugatech.com/news/slex-toll-road-5-to-connect-quezon-province-to-sorsogon/|title=SLEX Toll Road 5 to connect Quezon province to Sorsogon|work=YugaTech|access-date=December 29, 2020|language=en}}
• Southern Access Link Expressway (SALEX){{Cite news|title=DOTr and SMC sign agreement for new Southern Access Link Expressway |url=https://www.topgear.com.ph/news/motoring-news/southern-access-link-expressway-a962-20220621?ref=article_hyperlink |first=Drei |last=Laurel |access-date=February 14, 2023 |website=Top Gear Philippines |date=June 21, 2022 |language=en}}
• Southeast Metro Manila Expressway (SEMME)
• Tanauan-Tagaytay Expressway (Skyway Stage 8)
• Tarlac–Pangasinan–La Union Expressway Extension

{{main|Asian Highway Network}}

The Asian Highway 26 (File:Asian Highway 26 PH sign.svg) passes through three expressways in the Philippines:

1. 25px North Luzon Expressway from Guiguinto, Bulacan to Balintawak Interchange, Quezon City;
2. 25px South Luzon Expressway from Magallanes Interchange, Makati to Calamba, Laguna; and
3. 25px Skyway from Makati to Alabang.{{efn|group=note|name=skyway|The extent of E2/AH26 in Skyway is unknown since the [http://www.dpwh.gov.ph/dpwh/gis/rbi DPWH's GIS apps] does not show any route designation for the tollway. Despite this, some E2/AH26 markers were seen between Buendia and Alabang until they were dismantled together with the center barriers in 2020.}}

{{portal|Philippines|Roads}}

• Philippine highway network
• List of expressways in the Philippines
• Transportation in the Philippines
• List of bridges in the Philippines
• Philippine Nautical Highway System

{{notelist|group=note}}

{{reflist}}

• [https://www.jica.go.jp/english/our_work/evaluation/oda_loan/post/2003/pdf/2-18_full.pdf South Luzon Expressway Construction Project]

{{Philippine expressway network}}

{{Philippine highway network}}

{{Transportation in the Philippines}}

{{Motorways in Asia}}

{{Authority Control}}

Category:Roads in the Philippines

Philippines