SMC opens 2 lanes of Skyway Extension

MANILA, Philippines — San Miguel Corp. (SMC) on Sunday opened two lanes of the Skyway Extension project’s northbound section, allowing motorists from Cavite, Laguna and Batangas to bypass the Alabang viaduct to directly access the Skyway system.

The northbound section, which covers four kilometers from Susana Heights to Sucat in Parañaque, was opened to Class 1 vehicles with RFID tags.

SMC said no toll would be charged for the four-kilometer segment until further notice.

“I am proud to announce to motorists from the south that our long-awaited Skyway Extension northbound section is finally open. Our long-term solution to addressing traffic jams, particularly along the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) heading to the Alabang area has finally been realized,” SMC president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang said.

Ang said the northbound section provides a direct link to the elevated Skyway system for motorists from Laguna, Batangas and Cavite as it allows them to bypass the Alabang viaduct, reducing traffic congestion in the area.

From SLEX, motorists can go directly to their destinations such as Makati, Manila, Quezon City up to the North Luzon Expressway using the Skyway Stage 3.

“We are confident that this will further reduce traffic congestion along EDSA and usher growth in Southern Luzon provinces,” Ang said.

The three-lane northbound section can accommodate an additional 4,500 vehicles per hour.

The completion of the northbound section of Skyway Extension, according to Ang, will cut travel time to NLEX to just 25 to 30 minutes from the usual two to three hours.

“We are thankful to our workers and engineers for their commitment to complete the northbound section right on schedule and also to motorists for bearing with the alternate traffic schemes. We also thank our partners in government and the private sector, without whom we would not be able to finish work on this vital infrastructure,” he said.

Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar, who conducted the final inspection of the project on Sunday, said the northbound section’s opening is a step toward the realization of decongesting EDSA.

“The completion of the northbound section of Skyway Extension is a testament to what the government and the private sector can achieve together. We are confident that by 2022, President Duterte’s promise of decongesting EDSA will be realized,” Villar said.