MANILA, Philippines — San Miguel Corp. will hold a soft opening of the newly completed Skyway 3 expressway in December, SMC president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang said yesterday.
He expressed confidence that the company will be able to open the project by December despite rains hampering finishing works, including the laying and proper curing of asphalt.
He also said the entire 18-kilometer expressway, from Gil Puyat Avenue to North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), would be free to all motorists for an entire month.
“We’re very proud and excited about this project, because it will truly make a big difference to so many people’s lives – especially with our economy slowly opening up and with more vehicles coming back to our roads,” Ang said.
“While we’re still doing a few finishing works, we want the public to be able to use Skyway 3 already and benefit from the convenience and ease of travel that it will bring. We have all waited long for this project, so this is the best way we can welcome everyone, by making Skyway 3 free for one month,” he added.
SMC said the project – which took a total of six years to complete due to numerous challenges, including right-of-way issues and major changes to its design and alignment – is seen to greatly improve travel times and traffic conditions in and around Metro Manila.
By connecting the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) with the NLEX, it will also serve as an alternative to EDSA, with eight access points that traverse Makati, Manila, San Juan and Quezon City.
These access points include Gil Puyat Avenue, Plaza Dilao, Nagtahan, Aurora Boulevard, Quezon Avenue, Sgt. Rivera street, Balintawak and NLEX.
“With Skyway 3, we will improve the daily commutes and lives of so many Filipinos. We will lessen their time spent in traffic on the road, we can increase both their productivity and time spent with their families,” Ang said.
“Apart from this, the transportation of goods from north and south Luzon will also be so much easier, faster, and more efficient. This will be a big boost to our economy and support growth throughout the regions,” he added.
SMC is also targeting to deliver the northbound section of the Skyway extension project, which connects SLEX directly to Skyway from Susana Heights in Muntinlupa, by December.
With this, travel from Susana Heights through the Skyway system, including Skyway 3, all the way to the NLEX Balintawak toll plaza, will only take 20 minutes.
Travel time from Magallanes to Balintawak will be just 15 minutes, Balintawak to NAIA in 15 minutes, and Valenzuela to Makati in 10 minutes.