MANILA, Philippines — The South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) is set to open an interchange leading to the posh village of Ayala Greenfield Estates, as the tollway makes another move to expand its coverage.
Diversified conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC) yesterday led the groundbreaking ceremony for the Ayala Greenfield Interchange in SLEX, setting up the expressway for more passage from high-income travelers.
The interchange will lead to the upscale 550-hectare Ayala Greenfield Estates, developed by Ayala Greenfield Development Corp. (AGDC), a joint venture between Ayala Land Inc. (ALI) and the Campos family’s Greenfield Group.
The interchange will provide residents of Ayala Greenfield Estates an access to one of the most important thoroughfares in Southern Tagalog. Further, the project will reduce vehicle volume in the Sto. Tomas Interchange, where residents currently exit to access SLEX.
ALI chairman Jaime Augusto Zobel de Ayala said the interchange would also enable residents of Ayala Greenfield Estates to reach their offices and schools at the quickest possible time. Golfers would have ease of access to the Ayala Greenfield Golf and Leisure Club once the link to SLEX is completed.
Calamba Mayor Roseller Rizal said the interchange would open an alternative route when going to his city, easing the vehicle buildup in the Calamba Exit.
Further, the interchange will bridge the existing and future segments of SLEX, as SMC gears up to extend the tollway to as far as Matnog, Sorsogon.
SMC holds the concession to build the SLEX Toll Road 5, spanning at least 417 kilometers, from Lucena, Quezon to Matnog, Sorsogon, with the first section costing P22.6 billion.
SMC chairman and CEO Ramon Ang said the company would keep on investing in the upgrade of SLEX given its role in facilitating travel in Southern Tagalog. Currently, SMC is expanding the lanes in SLEX to transform it into a 6x6 expressway before the year ends.
“This [Ayala Greenfield Interchange] is part of SMC Infrastructure’s larger initiative to improve and expand our southern tollways network, particularly SLEX. By the end of the year, we expect to turn it into a 6x6 lane expressway,” Ang said.
SMC vowed to begin the construction of the interchange in November, but has yet to disclose the timeline for its completion and opening.
The Ayala Greenfield Estates, built by AGDC, covers 550 hectares in Calamba, Laguna, and sits adjacent to Mount Makiling and Laguna de Bay, making it as close to nature as possible.