Ayala-SM proposes P25-B Mla to MOA tollroad

MANILA, Philippines -  The infrastructure arm of Ayala Corp. and SM Investments Corp. have teamed up to submit a P25- billion unsolicited proposal to build an 8.6-kilometer elevated tollroad from Sta. Mesa in Manila (linking Skyway Stage 3) to the Mall of Asia (MOA) in Pasay.

AC Infrastructure Holdings Corp. president and CEO Jose Rene Almendras said in a press briefing the unsolicited proposal to design, finance, construct, operate and maintain the elevated tollroad for a period of 35 years was submitted to the Department of Public Works and Highways yesterday.

The alignment for the proposed tollroad or C-3 elevated expressway, which will complete (Circumferential Road 3) C-3, will start from C-3 Sta.Mesa area, traverse a portion of the Pasig River up to Circuit Makati area, run parallel to South Avenue and then follow Sen. Gil J. Puyat Ave. all the way to the Mall of Asia complex.

The project’s proposed interchanges will be located in Sta.Mesa, the Circuit Makati, Ayala-Gil Puyat, Roxas Boulevard and the SM Mall of Asia Complex.

AC Infrastructure and SM decided to work together on the project as both were looking at how to provide easy access to their respective developments.

SM was looking at how to connect their developments in the bayside area, while AC Infrastructure was mandated to study mobility within its townships and find access to Makati without having to pass by EDSA.

The proposed project is expected to reduce traffic congestion along EDSA and improve access to Manila Bay development areas, Makati central business district as well as the cities of Mandaluyong, San Juan and Manila.

As for the percentage each group would have in the partnership, Almendras said they could not disclose it at this time.

“We have an idea of where we want to be, but we cannot disclose yet at this time because it is possible there are other names we will add to these two. There are other groups interested in infra projects and there are ongoing discussions with them. We have invited others to join us  and right now, we cannot disclose because there is still evaluation stage,” Almendras said.

As the proposed project would connect to the Skyway Stage 3,  AC Infrastructure and the SM Group have approached San Miguel Corp. to join the consortium.

Based on the two groups’ ideal schedule or timeline for the proposal, Almendras said they hope to received the approval in the second quarter of next year.

He said construction of the proposed project would take three years to complete.

Almendras said the tollway is expected to have 50 percent utilization on its first day of operations.

The tollway could accommodate 100,000 vehicles moving at 60 kilometer per hour up to 150,000 vehicles at a slower speed.

“The proposal is designed that government will not spend one centavo for this project. They may advance a little but eventually, we will pay them,” Almendras said.