Palace approves P26.5-B Skyway connecting NLEX and SLEX

President Benigno Aquino III gave the green light to Citra Central Expressway Corporation to begin constructing the P26.5-billion expressway to connect the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and South Luzon Expressway (SLEX).

 

Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya said Aquino okayed the said contract, which is Stage 3 of the project of the Metro Manila Skyway.

 

“Our President is committed to build infrastructure that will ease the worsening traffic congestion and to enhance economic opportunities. This Skyway project will surely do both,” Abaya said. 

 

The new expressway, which will run a length of 14.2 kilometers, is expected to decongest EDSA and other major roads, including Quezon Ave., Araneta Ave., Nagtahan, and Quirino Avenue. 

 

Travel time from Buendia to Balintawak is also expected to be reduced to just 15 minutes from the current two hours after the flood-free and mostly elevated six-lane expressway is finished by Citra Central Expressway Corp., which is part of the San Miguel Corp. conglomerate. 

 

Abaya said the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) and the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) will be on top of the project.

 

Construction will start in the second quarter of 2014 and is expected to be finished in three years.

 

Abaya said the first section of the expressway from Buendia to Nagtahan may be opened to traffic by early 2016.

 

Abaya added the DOTC will coordinate with the Department of Public Works and Highways, the Metro Manila Development Authority, and local government units to address traffic concerns during the construction period.

 

“DOTC along with DPWH, MMDA and local governments of Makati, Manila and Quezon City will surely coordinate and do its best to minimize traffic inconvenience throughout the route of the project,” Abaya said.

 

Aside from this new expressway, the DOTC is also pursuing the construction of the Tarlac to La Union Expressway (TPLEX) and the widening and improvement of the Batangas expressway (STAR), Abaya said.

 

Meanwhile, Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) through Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) is ironing out a joint venture agreement with the Philippine National Construction Corp. (PNCC) for a P23-billion tollroad that would also connect the NLEX and SLEX.

 

The DOTC is pushing for the construction of connector roads to start by early 2014 to have new roads in time for the Leaders Meeting of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) to be hosted by the Philippines in 2015.

 

MPTC and Citra are expected to have a five-kilometer common area from Quirino Avenue up to Nagtahan in Sta. Mesa, Manila crossing the Pasig River. —KG, GMA News