The Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP) reached a construction milestone on Wednesday as a TBM broke through on the southbound tunnel.
A joint venture of Nishimatsu Construction Company and DM Consunji Inc, which is delivering the contract package CP102, made the breakthrough 35m below ground to connect the North Avenue and Quezon Avenue stations. The event was attended by President Ferdinand R Marcos Jr and the acting transportation secretary, Banoy Lopez.
The PHP25.538bn (€360m) contract includes the construction of a 3.1km tunnel and two underground stations – Quezon Avenue and East Avenue in Quezon City.
President Marcos said the Metro Manila Subway – the Philippines’ first underground railway system – would provide a solution to reducing traffic congestion.
The new line will reduce travel time from Valenzuela City to NAIA Terminal 3 to around 41 minutes from the current one hour and 30 minutes.
Financed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the 33km, 17-station MMSP is projected to serve around 519,000 passengers daily in its opening year, with a design capacity of more than 1 million passengers.
The project is 60% complete and the line is due to be finished in the fourth quarter of 2031.
