CAVITEX–C-5 Link

CAVITEX–C-5 Link, formerly the C-5 Southlink Expressway and signed as E2 of the Philippine expressway network, is a 7.708 km controlled-access toll expressway in Metro Manila, connecting the Manila–Cavite Expressway (CAVITEX) to Circumferential Road 5 (C-5) in Taguig. The project is being built at the cost of ₱15 billion, and is a joint project of the Philippine Reclamation Authority, Toll Regulatory Board, and Cavitex Infrastructure Corporation, a subsidiary of Metro Pacific Investments Corporation. Currently operational between Taguig and near E. Rodriguez Avenue in Parañaque only, its remaining segment up to CAVITEX is currently under construction.

Route description
CAVITEX C-5 Link starts at Carlos P. Garcia Avenue (C-5) in Taguig near its interchange with South Luzon Expressway (SLEX). It then ascends as the existing flyover that crosses Skyway, the PNR Metro Commuter Line, SLEX and the at-grade expressway's service roads before descending along C-5 Extension, which serves as its frontage roads, in Pasay. It then continues its course south of Ninoy Aquino International Airport until it meets its current terminus at C-5 Road Extension in Parañaque, near a Shell station. Unlike most expressways in the Philippine expressway network, the maximum speed on its existing section is 60 km/h.

The expressway's section towards Manila–Cavite Expressway (CAVITEX) is currently under construction. It will continue its course south of the airport. It will then pass by the Global Airport Business Park and Amvel City, where an interchange towards Dr. Santos Avenue and a toll plaza will be located. A flyover is passing over Dr. Santos Avenue, the LRT-1 Cavite Extension, and Diego Cera Avenue. It will end at a trumpet interchange with CAVITEX near the latter's Parañaque toll plaza.

History
In 1993, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) conducted a study on the proposed urban expressway system in Metro Manila. The master plan included the proposed Central Circumferential Expressway that would follow the old Circumferential Road 5 alignment from Navotas to Parañaque with the total length of about 45.8 km.

The original south extension of Circumferential Road 5, called Manila–Cavite Toll Expressway Project (MCTEP), was later approved by the Senate and would have been made as a toll expressway. However, in 2010, the project was scrapped in favor of the toll-free C-5 Road Extension that was controversial for traversing several of then-Senator Manny Villar's properties in Parañaque and Las Piñas. The toll expressway project was later revived as the C-5 Southlink Expressway project.

The construction of the expressway started on May 8, 2016. The expressway is being built in two phases, with the first phase that fills the gap between the C-5 main route and the C-5 Extension near Merville, Parañaque by constructing a 2.2 km flyover over South Luzon Expressway and Skyway, and the second phase involving construction of the Merville–R-1 segments.

Phase 1 or Section 3A-1 (C-5 to Merville) was opened to traffic on July 23, 2019. The 1.6 km Segment 3A-2 (Merville to E. Rodriguez) then opened on August 14, 2022, with the Merville Exit opening later on October 25.

On June 23, 2024, the expressway's 1.9 km Segment 2 (CAVITEX to Parañaque) and the Sucat exit was opened to traffic. This interchange is however independent from the existing 3.8 km section from C-5 to Barangay Santo Niño in Paranaque. The 2 km Segment 3B—which would connecting the sections between Sucat (Parañaque) and Merville exits—will complete the missing link. It broke ground two days earlier, with completion slated for March 2025.

Toll
The expressway currently uses a barrier toll system wherein motorists pay a fixed toll rate upon exit. Integrated with the toll system of CAVITEX, the electronic toll collection (ETC) system on the expressway is operated by Easytrip Services Corporation and collections are done on both dedicated lanes and mixed lanes at the toll barriers. However, the newly opened Segment 2 (CAVITEX to Parañaque) is currently toll-free until July 2024.

Tolls are assessed in each direction at each barrier, based on class. In accordance with the law, all toll rates include a 12% value-added tax.