MANILA - The elevated part of the North Luzon Expressway-Harbor Link tollway will be opened to motorists this February, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said on Tuesday.

DPWH Secretary Mark Villar said the NLEX Harbor Link Segment 10 will traverse the cities of Valenzuela, Malabon, and Caloocan.

The 5.65-km NLEX Harbor Link Segment 10 is expected to ease travel between key areas of Metro Manila and northern Luzon via the NLEX.

“Once opened, travel time between C3 and NLEX will take approximately 10 minutes and around 30,000 vehicles are expected to use this road,” Villar said in a statement.

Logistics firms are also expected to benefit from the project as it will allow cargo trucks to bypass Balintawak Cloverleaf and EDSA en route to Metro Manila.

Trucks will also have direct access from the port area to the NLEX.

The project was first projected to be completed by December 2016. However, this was pushed back because of difficulties in settling right of way issues.

Last year, officials said the project was expected to be completed by December but right of way issues and problems about the availability of materials were slowing down its progress.