Breaking ground on April 5, 2005, the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) is the country’s longest expressway at 93.77 kilometers. Commercial operations started on April 28, 2008, with the opening of the Subic-Clark Segment and portion of Clark-Tarlac Segment. The opening of the remaining Clark-Tarlac Segment on July 25, 2008 signaled the full operations of the SCTEX.

The SCTEX seeks to transform the Central Luzon region into a world-class logistics hub in the Asia-Pacific region through the integration of economic activities in the Subic Bay Freeport, the Clark Freeport Zone, and the Central Techno Park in Tarlac and by linking major infrastructures such as the Seaport in Subic and the Diosdado Macapagal International Airport in Clark.

Project Description
The 93.77-kilometer, four-lane expressway is divided into two major segments:

1.      Package 1: Subic-Clark Segment – 50.5 kilometers ( Contractor: Kajima-Obayashi-JFE Engineering-Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Inc. Joint Venture)
2.      Package 2: Clark-Tarlac segment – 43.27 kilometers (Contractor: Hazama-Taisei-Nippon Steel Joint Venture)

Project Consultants
Oriental Consultant-Katahira & Engineering International-Nippon Koei Co., LTD Joint Venture

Major Components
Following are the components of the SCTEX: a) 11 Interchanges : Subic-Tipo Interchange, Dinalupihan Interchange, Floridablanca Interchange (completed and for operational soon), Porac Interchange (completed and for operational soon), Clark South Interchange, Mabalacat Interchange, Clark North Interchange, Dolores Interchange, Concepcion Interchange, San Miguel/Luisita Interchange, Tarlac City Interchange; b) 4 Major Bridges; c) 31 Minor Bridges; d) 51 Underpasses; e) 374 Drainage Culverts; and, f) Toll Operations Center Building (TOCB) – located in Dolores Toll Plaza.

Operation and Maintenance
The consortium of the First Philippine Holdings Corporation, Egis Road Operation and Tollways Management Corporation (TMC) was tapped as the Interim Service Provider (ISP) of the SCTEX until June 2010. Their services include functional requirements for the efficient operation of the toll road—such as toll road collection, traffic safety and security management, toll road maintenance, including greenery and landscaping, management services, and all necessary support services.

Safety Features
BCDA, in coordination with the ISP, details the following safety features to ensure that travel within the SCTEX is on-time, safe and comfortable. Among these: a) 24/7 mobile patrol with eight relay stations; b) speed tracking radars; c) traffic management teams; d) night driving features—reflectorized traffic cones, New Jersey barriers, road signs, lane closure signs; e) 24/7 emergency medical services from Aeromed Ambulance Transport, Inc., and e) towing services by the Automobile Association of the Philippines.

Funding
Total cost of the SCTEX is Php27.123 billion. Eighty-five percent of the cost were funded by way of a loan from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) amounting to ¥41.93 billion or Php23.06 billion-with an interest rate of 0.95% per annum; 15 percent represents the BCDA counterpart or about Php4 billion.

Beneficiaries
SCTEX has generated more than 3,400 jobs—not limited to site workers, heavy equipment operators, engineers, SCTEx-Program Management Office staff and other construction-related professions.

Toll Fees
The Toll Regulatory Board approved a Php 2.00 per kilometer minimum toll fee for Class A Vehicles. A maximum toll fee of Php 181.00 will be charged for motorists that will travel the full length of the SCTEX, from Subic-Tipo to Tarlac City.

Class A Vehicles: Php 2.00 per kilometer
Class B Vehicles: Php 4.00 per kilometer
Class C Vehicles: Php 6.00 per kilometer

SCTEX Emergency Nos: 0920-96-SCTEX (0920-9672839) / (045) 8652030
SCTEX Hotlines: (02) 362-2246 / (02) 362-9997