Subic–Clark–Tarlac Expressway

The Subic–Clark–Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), signed as E1 and E4 of the Philippine expressway network, is a controlled-access toll expressway in the Central Luzon region of the Philippines. From its northern terminus in Tarlac City to its southern terminus at Tipo in Dinalupihan, Bataan, the SCTEX serves as one of the main expressways in Luzon. The expressway is also connected to the Central Luzon Link Expressway, North Luzon Expressway, Tarlac–Pangasinan–La Union Expressway, and the Subic Freeport Expressway. The SCTEX is the country's longest expressway at 93.77 kilometers (58.27 mi) until the completion of Toll Road 4 of South Luzon Expressway (SLEX). The Subic–Clark–Tarlac Expressway was constructed to provide a more efficient transport corridor between Subic Bay Freeport, Clark, and the Central Techno Park in Tarlac, foster development on the municipalities served, and connect major infrastructures such as the Subic Seaport and Clark International Airport.

Built by the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), a government-owned and controlled corporation, construction of the expressway started in 2005. Commercial operations then started on April 28, 2008, with the opening of the Subic–Clark Segment and Zone A of the portion of Clark-Tarlac Segment. The opening of Zones B and C of the remaining Clark–Tarlac Segment on July 25, 2008, signaled the full operations of SCTEX.

The Subic–Clark–Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) runs northwest from Bataan and runs through the provinces of Pampanga and Tarlac. The entirety of the SCTEX is built as a four-lane expressway mostly laid out on embankment, with some sections using cuts to traverse hilly areas. The expressway also crosses the four rivers in Central Luzon: the Dinalupihan River in Bataan, the Gumain River in Floridablanca and the Pasig–Potrero River in Porac, both in Pampanga, and the Sacobia River in Bamban, Tarlac. All exits require toll payment, and toll plazas are laid on the termini of the expressway.

SCTEX starts at Tipo Interchange, its intersection with the Subic Freeport Expressway (SFEX) in Dinalupihan, near Barangay Tipo in Hermosa, Bataan. The expressway initially traverses the Roosevelt Protected Landscape and is built parallel to the Jose Abad Santos Avenue (N3) until Dinalupihan Exit, where the expressway curves northward and tracks the Angeles-Porac-Floridablanca-Dinalupihan Road as it follows a mostly straight route. The expressway then curves to the northeast before Floridablanca Exit. It curves toward the northwest and back to the northeast before Porac Exit. It then curves eastward and then northward near Clark Freeport and Clark International Airport. Clark South Exit, which serves those areas, lies near Mabalacat Interchange, with the exits being one kilometer (0.62 mi) apart from each other. The segment ends at the Clark Logistics interchange in Mabalacat, where it meets the Clark Spur Road that links SCTEX with North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and crosses over MacArthur Highway (N2).

Past the Clark Logistics interchange, its main destination changes to Tarlac City and Baguio. The roadway runs at the boundary of Clark Freeport and Mabalacat city proper, where the Philippine National Railways (PNR) North Main Line to Dagupan and San Fernando, La Union also lies. MacArthur Highway parallels the expressway up to Tarlac City.

Leaving Clark Freeport, Clark North Exit comes before the expressway, where it curves and then crosses MacArthur Highway at Barangay Dolores, where a half-partial cloverleaf interchange, serving only northbound traffic, connects the two. Approaching Tarlac, the expressway bridges over the Sacobia River. The first service areas on the expressway, one serving northbound and one for southbound traffic and separated by one kilometer, come before Concepcion Exit. The expressway passes near the poblacion of Concepcion, then over agricultural land of Tarlac City. Hacienda Luisita Exit comes before the northern end of the expressway, and serves Hacienda Luisita as well as connecting MacArthur Highway and serving barangays along its connecting road. A new toll plaza built on the main route serves the final Tarlac City Exit. The exit serves an interchange with the Central Luzon Link Expressway (CLLEX). Past Tarlac City Exit, SCTEX becomes Tarlac–Pangasinan–La Union Expressway (TPLEX) northward.

The Subic–Clark–Tarlac Expressway or SCTEx Project was initiated under the administration of President Joseph Estrada with an original project cost of ₱15.73 billion. On September 14, 2001, the loan agreement was signed between the Philippines and Japan to finance and construct the expressway with a total cost of ₱17.84 billion (¥41.93 billion) during the state visit of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo in Japan. Construction of the expressway commenced on April 5, 2005 which established its right-of-way that marked the start of the expressway's existence. The expressway is the longest in the country, covering 93 kilometers (58 mi).

The original project for the expressway was divided into two segments: the 50.5-kilometer (31.4 mi) Subic-Clark segment and the 43.27-kilometer (26.89 mi) Clark-Tarlac segment. The contractors were a joint venture of Kajima, Obayashi, JFE Engineering, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries for the Subic-Clark segment, and a joint venture of Hazama, Taisei, and Nippon Steel for the Clark-Tarlac segment. Consultation was provided by a joint venture of Oriental Consultant, Katahira & Engineering International, and Nippon Koei.

The total cost for the construction of the expressway was ₱34.957 billion. It was sourced through a loan of ¥41.93 billion or ₱23.06 billion from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC), with an annual interest rate of 0.95%. ₱25.737 billion of the total project cost represented direct costs such as expenses incurred for the construction of the SCTEX. The indirect costs of ₱7.146 billion included land acquisition, consultancy services, project management expenses, and taxes and duties. Financing costs of ₱2.074 billion included the Department of Finance guarantee fee and JBIC loan interest during the construction period. Toll Fees were approved by the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB).

On March 18, 2008, at exactly 1 p.m., President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo opened the Subic–Clark segment of the expressway for a Holy Week trial run. This helped motorists traveling to Zambales and Bataan for Holy Week. The trial run was free, and available for class 1 vehicles only. It ran on March 18 from 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., and March 19 to 24, 5:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.; operating hours were limited as no street lights had been installed.

On April 28, 2008, at exactly 12 noon, BCDA opened the Subic–Clark segment to all vehicles. BCDA said that travel from Manila to Subic via North Luzon Expressway would now take only 1 hour and 40 minutes, and travel from Clark to Subic would take 40 minutes. The Dolores exit (formerly Clark North A exit) was also opened, which connects to MacArthur Highway.

On July 25, 2008, the BCDA announced the opening of the Clark–Tarlac segment of the expressway. Travel time from Clark to Tarlac was reduced to only 25 minutes, and to travel the entire length of the SCTEX would take about 1 hour. Travel from Manila to Tarlac City via NLEx and the SCTEX would take 1 hour and 25 minutes.

In 2015, the BCDA awarded the operations and maintenance contract for the expressway to the Manila North Tollways Corporation (MNTC, now NLEX Corporation). MNTC took over the management of the toll road on October 27. The seamless integration, which replaced the old tolling system — the old toll plazas were demolished — was completed in March 2016 to merge the two expressways into one system.

The expressway is part of the Bases Conversion and Development Authority's Subic–Clark–Tarlac Expressway Project or SCTEP, which aims to connect the economic zones of Subic and Clark. The joint venture of First Philippine Infrastructure Development Corporation (FPIDC), Tollways Management Corporation, and Egis Projects — the same concessionaires of the North Luzon Expressway — would handle all the operations and maintenance of the expressway. The First Philippine Infrastructure Development Corporation is a subsidiary of First Philippine Holdings, a holding company under the Lopez Group of Companies with core investments in power and tollways, and strategic initiatives in property and manufacturing. The FPIDC was eventually sold to Metro Pacific Investments Corporation in 2008.

The SCTEX business and operating agreement was signed July 25, 2011 between the BCDA and the Manila North Tollways Corporation (MNTC), and its holding companies Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC) and Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC). Under the agreement, MNTC will operate and manage SCTEX for 33 years, while relieving BCDA of the heavy financial burden of paying the ₱34-billion debt to the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). By virtue of the Agreement, the SCTEX can be considered as having been built at no cost to Government.

Tipo Toll Plaza (before the toll system integration with NLEx)

Tarlac Toll Plaza

Toll plazas of SCTEX

The toll system of Subic–Clark–Tarlac Expressway started out as a closed road system using cards with magnetic strips. In March 2016, electronic toll collection was initiated, using an 'Easytrip' system by Manila North Tollways Corporation and consolidating the toll system with that of the North Luzon Expressway. Before consolidation, the toll systems were completely independent, with toll collection at a toll plaza on Clark Spur Road in Mabalacat, until the structure's demolition following the toll systems' integration.

In March 2016, the integration of the North Luzon Expressway and the SCTEX was completed, in time for the Holy Week exodus. Among the integration plans which costed ₱650 million are the reduction of toll collection stops, construction of additional toll plazas and the conversion of the electronic toll collection of the two expressways into a single system.

With the government's push towards toll road interoperability, the Autosweep payment system from the San Miguel Corporation, which operates SLEX, Skyway, STAR Tollway, NAIAX, and TPLEX, has been accepted for SCTEX tolls since March 2018.

The toll rates, by distance travelled and vehicle class, are:

From 2016, the SCTEx has two service areas in Concepcion, Tarlac, north of the Sacobia River. One of the service areas is on the northbound lanes and the other one is on the southbound lanes. The northbound service area is composed of a PTT gas station and a 7-Eleven store. The southbound service area is composed of a Seaoil gas station and CityMall shopping mall. Both service areas include a future expansion to accommodate additional retail and parking space.

This entire route is located in Central Luzon. Exits are numbered by kilometer posts, with Rizal Park in Manila designated as kilometer zero. 

The entire route is located in Mabalacat, Pampanga. 

• Subic–Clark–Tarlac Expressway
• Bases Conversion and Development Authority