Skyway Stage 3 Quirino southbound exit opens

The Quirino southbound exit of the Skyway Stage 3 is now open to Class 1 vehicles, its private proponent San Miguel Corp. (SMC) announced Monday.

In an advisory, SMC said the opening will allow motorists to travel from Balintawak and Quezon Avenue to Manila within less than 20 minutes without traffic.

"The opening of the Quirino southbound exit will greatly improve accessibility from Quezon City and Manila," said SMC president and COO Ramon Ang.

"With more private vehicles diverted to Skyway Stage 3 on their way back from NLEX, or coming from Quezon Avenue to Manila, traffic on our major public roads as well as on streets usually utilized as 'short cuts' or 'alternate routes' will be a thing of the past," he added.

The Skyway Stage 3 now has 15 operational ramps:

Northbound Entry/On-Ramps:

• Buendia (Zobel)
• Quezon Avenue

Northbound Exit/Off-Ramps:

• Quirino Avenue
• Nagtahan
• Quezon Avenue
• A. Bonifacio
• Balintawak

Southbound Entry/On-Ramps:

• Balintawak
• Quezon Avenue
• Plaza Dilao

Southbound Exit/Off-Ramps:

• Quezon Avenue
• E. Rodriguez
• Nagtahan
• Quirino
• Buendia (Zobel)

"This will redound to relief from congestion and faster and easier commutes for many of our countrymen on our major thoroughfares," said Ang.

The 18.83-kilometer elevated expressway was partially opened to motorists in January, with waived toll fees until further notice.

SMC is the parent company of CITRA Central Expressway Corporation (CCEC), which bagged the P44.86-billion Skyway Stage 3 Project that aims to reduce travel time between Buendia and Balintawak to 15 to 20 minutes from the previous travel time of two hours.—AOL, GMA News