SMC plans to extend Skyway project

Conglomerate San Miguel Corp. plans to extend its 14.82-kilometer elevated tollroad project that will link North and Luzon Expressways to open up a new route for heavy vehicles heading to eastern Metro Manila.

In a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange Monday, SMC said it was in discussion with the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) to construct an extension of the P40-billion Skyway Stage 3 project that will become an optional route for trucks going to the eastern portion of Metro Manila.

“Such extension may pass through the San Juan river, C-3 and the Pasig River, respectively,” SMC said in the disclosure.

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“We advise that the construction of such tollway will not be considered an unsolicited proposal since it would be an extension of the Skyway stage 3 project,” SMC said.

The North Luzon Expressway-South Luzon Expressway (NLEx-SLEx) connector road or Skyway Stage 3 is a six-lane elevated toll road and the last of three stages of the Metro Manila Skyway System.

It is intended to connect SLEx in Alabang to Balintawak in Quezon City before North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) through Central Metro Manila Area by using predominantly the median of Quirino, G. Araneta and A. Bonifacio road networks.

Phase one consists of two sections—Buendia to Nagtahan and Nagtahan to Ramon Magsaysay Boulevard.

Phase two of the project will have two sections, one linking Ramon Magsaysay Boulevard to Quezon Avenue and another linking Quezon Avenue to Balintawak.

The original plan consisted of eight interchanges at Buendia, Pres. Quirino Avenue, Plaza Dilao and Nagtahan, Aurora Boulevard, E. Rodriguez Avenue, Quezon Avenue, Sgt. Rivera and Balintawak with a total of 14 toll plazas.

The project, which is covered by a 30-year concession period, intends to enhance the economic interaction of Calabarzon (Cavite-Laguna-Batangas-Rizal-Quezon), Mega Manila, and central Luzon that contribute to over 60 percent of the country’s gross domestic product.

It also seeks to provide an alternate route to decongest Edsa and the major thoroughfares around its vicinity. –Doris Dumlao-Abadilla