National
San Miguel Corp. is partially opening tomorrow (December 29) Skyway 3 and would not charge toll fees for a month. This would link southern and northern Luzon.
SMC president/COO Ramon S. Ang said “we are glad to finally welcome motorists, even on a limited capacity on December 29. Even if only a partial opening, given the scale and importance of this project, this is very significant development,” Ang said in a press statement.
He credited President Duterte’s entire economic team, led by Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade and Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar for pursuing this massive infrastructure development under the Build Build Build program and helping accelerate the completion of Skyway 3.
Ang said it was under the Duterte administration when major right of way issues that hampered the project, were resolved.
He said Villar made it possible for the end point of Skyway to be extended and connected directly to the North Luzon Expressway.
“This project is the result of the hard work and contributions of so many stakeholders, past and present. “We especially thank President Rodrigo Duterte and his economic team, from DPWH Secretary Villar, DoTR Secretary Arthur Tugade and Finance Secretary Dominguez for their continued push for infrastructure development to create growth and make life easier for more Filipinos,” he said.
The partial opening would involve 4 (of the 7) lanes of Skyway 3.
By January 14, he said, SMC will formally open all seven lanes of the entire 18-km stretch from Buendia in Makati to NLEX.
Ang said the company would have soft- opened the expressway sooner but disruptions caused by recent typhoons meant more time needed to allow for the sufficient curing of concrete and proper preparation for asphalting. “We cannot rush the curing of concrete and preparation for asphalt because these have to be given enough time and have to be done according to the highest specifications to ensure quality and safety,.” He added.
Together with Skyway 1, 2 and Skyway extension, which have a total of 20 kilometers, the new expressway (Skyway 3) extends the entire Skyway system to 30 kms.
With the completion next year of the Skyway extension at the southern end—from Susana Heights to Alabang—the entire system will have 36 access points on both sides, from end-to-end.
It is seen to dramatically reduce travel time between Makati to NLEX to only 20 minutes and Alabang and NLEX to only 30 minutes. It will also serve as an alternative to EDSA for those travelling between MM cities, reducing traffic on the notoriously congested thoroughfare.