North Luzon Expressway

The Santa Ines-bound NLEX, just north of Paso de Blas, Valenzuela

The North Luzon Tollway (NLT) or the NLEX mainline cuts northwards from Manila to the provinces of Bulacan and Pampanga. The expressway parallels MacArthur Highway from Quezon City to Mabalacat in Pampanga. It has 8 lanes from Balintawak Interchange to Balagtas Interchange, 6 lanes from Balagtas Interchange to San Fernando Exit, and 4 lanes from San Fernando to Sta. Ines Exit. The expressways has bridges that cross seven rivers. Some portions of the expressway are lined with billboards, including its viaduct portion. Various high voltage overhead power lines, most notably the Hermosa–Duhat–Balintawak transmission line of National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP) from Smart Connect Interchange to San Fernando Exit, utilize the significant portion of the expressway route as the densely populated areas hinder acquisition of dedicated right of way.

Southbound lane of NLEx through the barangays of Lawang Bato and Lingunan, Valenzuela.

Northbound lane of NLEx near Barangay Taal, Bocaue

The expressway starts at Balintawak Interchange as a physical continuation of Bonifacio Avenue. A few meters after the cloverleaf is Quirino Highway, with a northbound left exit ascending into a flyover to the northeast. Past this exit, Reparo Road parallels the expressway from Novaliches Exit to Eternal Gardens Memorial Park. The road approaches the Balintawak toll plaza, widening to 17 lanes only serving northbound traffic. The offices of NLEX Corporation is located near the toll plaza. A new toll plaza, opened in 2017, is built between the northbound and southbound lanes, servicing Class 1 vehicles (cars, jeepneys and other light vehicles),

The expressway reverts to four lanes, continues northward, crossing Tullahan River through the Tullahan Bridge, intersects with General T. De Leon Street, and passes the Smart Connect Interchange. It then passes through industrial areas and businesses within Valenzuela. The expressway's East Service Road starts paralleling the expressway before Paso de Blas exit. The road continues on a straight route, with a Caltex service area located near the Dulalia overpass, until it enters Bulacan.

It crosses Meycauayan River and after a few meters is the Meycauayan Exit to serve its town proper. Another service road named St. Francis Service Road runs beside the expressway's southbound lanes. It passes through residential areas and institutions within the municipality, intersects with Lias Road, and continues on a straight alignment. On Marilao, there is a Petron service area and after it are the Marilao River crossing and Marilao exit. It enters Bocaue after Marilao Exit, where Ciudad de Victoria and the Philippine Arena lies to the east. The road turns eastward to serve Bocaue toll plaza, where the southbound lanes widens to 22 lanes with 4 from a parallel road making a grand total of 26 lanes, and on the middle of it is a newly built toll plaza and road. It turns westward, passes through Bocaue Exit, Santa Maria River, and Taal Bridge, and continues on a straight alignment until Balagtas Interchange. Before it are the Petron for southbound and Shell for northbound traffic. Past the Shell service area is the Tabang Spur Road and Balagtas Interchange which was opened on March 20, 2012. This is the former terminus of the original segment of the expressway from 1967 to 1976 before it is extended to Dau.

Candaba Viaduct

The expressway narrows to three lanes per direction past Tabang Spur Road. It continues on a straight route, traversing paddy fields on the outskirts of Guiguinto, Malolos, and Pulilan. AH26 leaves NLEX at Santa Rita Exit, where it follows Maharlika Highway, also known as Cagayan Valley Road, to Baliuag and Cabanatuan.

A few meters after Pulilan Exit is the Candaba Viaduct (officially known as Pulilan-Apalit Bridge). The bridge traverses rice paddies and swampland in the municipalities of Pulilan, Calumpit, Bulacan and Apalit, Pampanga, and crosses Pampanga River before the viaduct ends. The expressway continues again on a straight alignment, passing through Apalit, San Simon, Santo Tomas, and San Fernando, and crosses Abacan and San Fernando rivers. At the vicinity of San Fernando Exit are two major malls, SM City Pampanga and Robinsons Starmills Pampanga.

The 4-lane segment of NLEX in Pampanga

An overpass at the SCTEX Exit, before the 2016 expansion

After San Fernando Exit, the expressway narrows into two lanes, both northbound and southbound. It continues as a straight roadway, passing through the rural areas of Mexico, crossing Abacan and Quitangil rivers, and traversing the eastern parts of Angeles and Mabalacat. NLEX connects with Subic–Clark–Tarlac Expressway via Clark Spur Road before the main line terminates at Santa Ines Interchange, with a toll plaza serving the exit. The segment between SCTEX and Santa Ines Exit used to be a two-lane road but has since widened into four lanes with a grass median.

Tabang Spur Road

Tabang Spur Road is a four-lane, 3.36-kilometer (2.09 mi) spur road in Bulacan that branches off the NLEX mainline at Tabang Exit in Balagtas and terminates at a partial cloverleaf interchange with MacArthur Highway and Maharlika Highway (Cagayan Valley Road) at Guiguinto Exit in Guiguinto. It carried the final leg of NLEX (then the North Diversion Road) until the present route was extended to Angeles.

The road spurs off the main line at Tabang Exit in Balagtas. It then crosses the abandoned Philippine National Railways line to Cabanatuan, traverses Barangays Tuktukan, Tabe, and Malis in Guiguinto, and crosses the Guiguinto River. It then approaches the Tabang Toll Plaza, where the road expands to 12 lanes for both westbound and eastbound motorists. The operations and management offices of Tollways Management Corporation is located near the toll plaza. A Shell station is also found next to the offices, serving eastbound motorists. At the nearby unsignalized intersection past the toll plaza, it meets St. Francis Street, which serves as an alternate route to MacArthur Highway. It ends at the partial cloverleaf interchange with MacArthur Highway and Maharlika Highway and continues to the west towards Malolos as the former.

Segment 8.1 (Mindanao Avenue Link) is a four-lane, 2.34-kilometer (1.45 mi) spur road that runs from the Smart Connect Interchange to Mindanao Avenue in Valenzuela City. It begins at the Smart Connect Interchange with the NLEX mainline, picking-up from where Segment 9 (Karuhatan Link) left off. It lies on the ground level east of the interchange. It then enters Barangay Ugong in Valenzuela, where it approaches the Mindanao Avenue toll plaza, widening to 6 lanes only serving westbound traffics, and terminates at Mindanao Avenue near the city boundary with Quezon City.

On the other hand, Segment 9 (Karuhatan Link) is a four-lane, 2.4-kilometer (1.5 mi) spur road that runs from Smart Connect Interchange to MacArthur Highway in Karuhatan in Valenzuela City. It is the first segment of the NLEX Harbor Link project.[2] It begins at the Smart Connect Interchange with the NLEX mainline, picking-up from where Segment 8.1 (Mindanao Avenue Link) left off. Lying on the ground level west of the interchange, it then traverses Barangays Gen. T. De Leon, Parada, and Maysan. It then enters Barangay Karuhatan, where it approaches the Karuhatan Toll Plaza, exclusively for eastbound vehicles, and Segment 10 (Harbor Link) and finally terminates at MacArthur Highway.

Both Segments 8.1 and 9 are components of Circumferential Road 5 (C-5) of the Metro Manila arterial road system.

Under-construction NLEX Segment 10 in Sangandaan, Caloocan

NLEX Harbor Link, also named NLEX Segment 10, is a four-lane, 5.65-kilometer (3.51 mi) fully elevated expressway which connects with the Karuhatan Link (Segment 9) at Valenzuela to C-3 Road in Caloocan, where two ramps carry it to the west for another 2.6 kilometers (1.6 mi) and ends at Radial Road 10 in Navotas. It is the second phase of the NLEX Harbor Link project.[2] It is designated to provide access between Port of Manila and northern Luzon. Most of the road utilizes the existing railway right of way through Caloocan, Malabon, and Valenzuela, with the road rising as high as 19 meters (62 ft) to provide necessary clearance for the elevated Manila–Clark Railway of the Philippine National Railways (PNR).

NLEX Harbor Link begins at Karuhatan Exit with Segment 9. The section near the northern terminus traverses an industrial and residential area, which necessitated the demolition of numerous houses, buildings, and warehouses. It soon follows the railway right-of-way where it rises up to provide necessary ground clearance for the viaduct carrying the future Manila–Clark Railway. Past Samson Road and the PNR rolling stock shops in Caloocan, NLEX Harbor Link shifts to the right of the railway right of way, which also required demolition of numerous houses and buildings, including a local wet market. The expressway ends at an interchange with C-3 Road, with completed stubs to connect with the C3–R10 spur alignment which is under construction, and the future NLEX-SLEX Connector Road.

Its original stretch from Karuhatan to C-3 Road was first opened to traffic on February 28, 2019.[3] Its C3–R10 Section was then partially opened on February 21, 2020 up to the Malabon Exit ramp to Dagat-Dagatan Avenue.[4] It was finally opened on June 15, 2020.[5]

The NLEx Segment 8.2 will be a 8.35-kilometer (5.19 mi) segment that will connect the existing NLEx Segment 8.1 (Mindanao Avenue Link) to C-5 Road and Commonwealth Avenue. The planned segment will at first run parallel to Republic Avenue before making a southward turn to Luzon Avenue after which it will then connect to Commonwealth Avenue. The segment will include two interchanges in Mindanao and Regalado Avenues, a roundabout connection at Congressional Avenue, and three local road crossings at Quirino Highway, Sauyo Road, and Chestnut Avenue.[9]

Plans for a construction of an elevated road to connect North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) has been bared long before the construction of Segment 10.1.

The government reportedly accepted the unsolicited proposal from Metro Pacific Tollways Development Corporation (MPTDC) to build the 13.24-kilometer (8.23 mi) road. MPTDC is a subsidiary of Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC), which runs NLEX. This would later be known as the Connector Road project, the elevated expressway will have run over the Philippine National Railways tracks until terminating to the Skyway Stage 3 Interchange.

It will be connected in the north to the existing Segment 10 towards Valenzuela. In the south, it will be linked to the Skyway Stage 3 near PUP in Santa Mesa, Manila. Once completed, the Connector Road will have four entry and exit points: C-3 Road in Caloocan, España in Sampaloc, Manila, and terminating through the Paco-Sta. Mesa Road in Santa Mesa, Manila. This project is targeted to be open to traffic by February 2022. Its construction will also take into consideration the upcoming parallel construction of the Main Line South of the Philippine National Railways as an elevated and electrified railway.

Construction of the project is estimated to cost ₱17 billion, but as an "all-elevated" or completely grade-separated structure, right-of-way acquisition shall be reduced to an estimated cost of only ₱2.41 billion. It broke ground on February 28, at the same time Segment 10.1 was inaugurated and opened to traffic, officially indicating that the NLEX Karuhatan Link and Segment 10 are mostly complete.[3]

This will be a 40-kilometer (25 mi) extension with three segments from the NLEX mainline, originally in San Simon, Pampanga, to Dinalupihan, Bataan, connecting to Subic–Tipo Expressway (NLEx Segment 7). However, the plan did not push through. It would instead start somewhere between Apalit and San Fernando in Pampanga, then will cut across Guagua and end at Dinalupihan. [11] Though the project will start tentatively from Apalit based on the concession, the new alignment has yet to be finalized.[12]

NLEX in San Simon, after the 2016 expansion project

The NLEX has 8 lanes, 4 lanes in both directions from the Balintawak to Burol segment, 6 lanes with 3 lanes for both directions on the Burol to San Fernando segment and 4 lanes with 2 lanes for both directions on the Tabang Spur and San Fernando to Santa Ines segment. Before the lane expansion project of 2016, there was even a part of the NLEX which consists of only 2 lanes, one for each direction. This segment is located after passing through the SCTEx Exit (Northbound)[14] but has since been expanded into four lanes.

100 km/h for cars and jeepneys, 80 km/h for trucks and buses, and 60 km/h is the minimum for all classes of vehicles. Speed limits are strictly enforced via CCTV cameras and speed guns, and speeders are usually identified as soon as they hit the tollbooth.

San Fernando Toll Plaza in Pampanga, before the 2005 rehabilitation

The upgrade consisted of rebuilding of roads and building new toll plazas. Launched in the beginning of 2003 and completed in February 2005, the roadway now has modern features explained above.

The entire stretch of the expressway underwent another rehabilitation regarding its drainage systems. The expressway is known to be flooded during the rainy season and the goal of the project is to fix the drainage systems within the road to prevent flooding. Within this period, certain lanes of the road were closed to the traffic. This in turn caused massive traffic jams along the road and the speed limit on the construction sites were reduced from 80/100 km/h to 60 km/h.

The program started on February 12, 2007 and finished on October 7, 2007.

• Philippine National Construction Corporation
• Metro Pacific Investments Corporation
• Leighton Asia Limited
• Egis Projects S.A of France

Emergency telephone boxes are located throughout the whole length of the expressway. Parking bays (lay-bys) are also placed on regular intervals on the expressway, for use in emergency situations.

North Luzon Expressway has 7 service areas, mostly located on the closed toll section north of Bocaue. Each service station hosts a gas station, restaurants, and a convenience store, as well as ATMs and restrooms, car repair, and lubrication services.

The west end of Tabang Spur Road at Guiguinto Exit

The entire route is located in Bulacan. 

City/Municipality	km	mi	Exit	Name	Destinations	Notes
Guiguinto	36	22	36	Guiguinto	N1 (MacArthur Highway / Cagayan Valley Road) – Guiguinto, Malolos, Balagtas	Western terminus & end of expressway. Continues west as N2 (MacArthur Highway).
	36	22			St. Francis Street	T-Intersection
	36	22	Shell service station (eastbound only)
	36	22	Tabang toll plaza (electronic toll collection, cash payments. westbound and eastbound)
	34	21		Tabe	Tabe	Access for westbound motorists only [16]
Balagtas	32	20	32		E1 / AH26 (NLEX Main) – Manila	Eastern terminus
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Closed/former       Incomplete access       Tolled

The entire route is located in Metro Manila. This route consists of the NLEX Mindanao Avenue Link, NLEX Karuhatan Link, and NLEX Harbor Link (including its C3–R10 segment). 

City/Municipality	km	mi	Exit	Name	Destinations	Notes
Valenzuela				Mindanao Avenue	N128 (Mindanao Avenue) – Quezon City	Eastern end of expressway. Link to the future NLEX Segment 8.2. Start of C-5 designation.
			Mindanao Avenue toll plaza (electronic toll collection, cash payments. westbound only)
				Smart Connect Interchange	E1 / AH26 (NLEX Main) – Manila, Tarlac	Cloverleaf interchange with collector lanes
				Parada	Parada, Maysan	Westbound exit only
				Gen. T. De Leon	Gen. T. de Leon	Eastbound exit only
			Karuhatan toll plaza (electronic toll collection, cash payments; eastbound only)
				Karuhatan	N1 (MacArthur Highway) – Karuhatan	Diamond interchange. Northern end of C-5 system.
Malabon			No major junctions
Caloocan				C-3 Road	N130 (C-3 Road)	Southbound exit and northbound entrance
				Caloocan Interchange	NLEX–SLEX Connector Road	Under construction. Southbound exit opened as of February 21, 2020; shifts west to its C3–R10 Section. Link to the future NLEX–SLEX Connector Road.
				Malabon	Dagat-Dagatan Avenue – Malabon	Current west end of expressway. Westbound exit opened as of February 21, 2020; also a future eastbound entrance.[17]
Navotas					N120 / AH26 (Radial Road 10) – Navotas Fish Port Complex	Westbound exit and eastbound entrance; completion targeted before the end of 2020.[18]
				Navotas Interchange[18]	N120 / AH26 (Radial Road 10) – Manila North Harbor	Western terminus. Also known as C3-R10 Ramp, it provides direct access to Mel Lopez Boulevard in Manila. Link to the proposed NLEX–CAVITEX Port Expressway Link or Harbor Link Port Access Mobility Facility.[19][20]
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Incomplete access       Tolled       Route transition       Unopened

The entire route is located in Metro Manila. It is still under construction.[21] 

City/Municipality	km	mi	Exit	Name	Destinations	Notes
Caloocan				Caloocan Interchange	E5 (NLEX Harbor Link) – Manila North Harbor, Mindanao Avenue, Tarlac	Northern terminus. Continues north as E5 (NLEX Harbor Link). Also connects with the C3–R10 Section of Harbor Link.
				C-3 Road	N130 (C-3 Road)	Northbound exit and southbound entrance
Manila			España toll plaza
				España	N170 (España Boulevard) – Sampaloc
					Skyway	Southern terminus. Future connection with Skyway.
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Unopened

The entire route is located in Metro Manila. The construction of this route is still pending. 

City/Municipality	km	mi	Exit	Name	Destinations	Notes
Valenzuela				Mindanao Avenue	N128 (Mindanao Avenue)	Western terminus. Continues west as E5 (NLEX Mindanao Avenue Link).
Quezon City			Regalado toll plaza
				Congressional/Luzon Avenue	N129 (Congressional Avenue, Luzon Avenue)	Eastern terminus. Access to N170 (Commonwealth Avenue).
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi       Unopened