SMC to enforce new Skyway scheme

MANILA, Philippines — San Miguel Corp. (SMC) will implement a new scheme on the Skyway system to help mitigate the impact of a lane closure starting Feb. 16.

SMC said Friday the Skyway management will temporarily designate the elevated Skyway for use by Class 1 vehicles only while buses and delivery vans will be assigned to the at-grade section.

Class 1 refers to cars, sport utility vehicles, vans, pick-ups and other private vehicle types.

SMC said the new scheme is designed to make travel on the Skyway system more efficient even as construction for the southbound section of the P10-billion Skyway Extension project switches to high gear.

Under the new scheme, SMC said buses and delivery vans coming from Makati, Manila and Pasay bound for Alabang must take the Nichols southbound entry toll plaza to the at-grade Skyway.

Meanwhile, buses and delivery vans from NAIA Expressway bound for Alabang must take Andrews Avenue going to Sales Road, then take Nichols southbound entry toll plaza to the at-grade Skyway.

SMC said buses and delivery vans from NAIA Expressway can also take the Magallanes northbound off-ramp, make a U-turn under the Magallanes interchange, then head to the Nichols southbound entry toll plaza to the at-grade Skyway.

The company earlier asked for the public’s understanding as construction work for the southbound section of the Skyway Extension project is set to begin on Feb. 16.

Along with the closure of the third southbound lane of Skyway at-grade from Sucat to Filinvest, also scheduled for closure starting Feb. 16 are the Alabang southbound and Bunye South Station exit toll plazas, a portion of the northbound West Service Road and the Hillsborough off-ramp from the elevated Skyway to at-grade Skyway.

According to SMC, the lane closures will give way to bored piling and column installation in the area, which is expected to be completed by March 30.