P-Noy OKs connector road contract Citra gets green light to start construction

MANILA, Philippines - Malacañang has given Citra Central Expressway Corp. of diversified conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC) the green light to start the construction of a P26.5-billion expressway that would connect the North and South Luzon tollroad systems.

Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya said President Aquino has approved the contract for the Stage 3 project of the Metro Manila Skyway that would connect the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) and the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX).

“Our President is committed to build infrastructure that will ease the worsening traffic congestion and to enhance economic opportunities. This Skyway project will surely do both,” Abaya stressed.

Abaya pointed out that the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) and the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) would oversee the project that is expected to start construction early in the second quarter of next year.

He added that the agency would coordinate with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) as well as the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and local government units to minimize traffic during the period of construction that is expected to take three years.

“DOTC along with DPWH, MMDA and local governments of Makati, Manila and Quezon City will surely coordinate and do its best to minimize traffic inconvenience throughout the route of the project,” Abaya added.

The 14.2-kilometer road system would decongest EDSA and other major roads such as Quezon Ave., Araneta Ave., Nagtahan, and Quirino. It is also expected to greatly reduce travel time from Buendia to Balintawak to just 15 minutes from the usual two hours or more.

The flood-free and mostly elevated six-lane expressway would also reduce pollution, provide greater comfort and safety to the motorists and result to large savings in travel time, fuel and vehicle maintenance costs.

The project would also provide around 6,000 direct jobs and additional indirect jobs of around 10,000 during construction. Preparatory and advance works would commence before the end of the year.

The DOTC chief revealed that the first section of the expressway from Buendia to Nagtahan could be opened to traffic by early 2016.

Abaya said the DOTC is also pursuing other projects such as the construction of the Tarlac to La Union expressway (TPLEX) and the widening and improvement of the Batangas expressway (STAR) are on-going.

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) said in a study that around P2.4 billion worth of economic and opportunity loss is incurred daily due to traffic congestion in Metro Manila.

Meanwhile, infrastructure conglomerate Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) headed by businessman Manuel V. Pangilinan through Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC), is finalizing a joint venture agreement with state-run Philippine National Construction Corp. (PNCC) for a P23 billion tollroad that would also connect the NLEX and SLEX.

The DOTC wants the construction of the connector roads to start early next year so that the project would be completed in time for the Leaders Meeting of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) which the Philippines would be hosting in 2015.

Both MPTC and Citra should have a common area spanning five kilometers from Quirino in Manila up to Nagtahan in Sta. Mesa in Manila crossing the Pasig River.