The new road will lessen travel times and will help motorists save on fuel.
According to Secretary Giovanni Lopez of the Department of Transportation (DOTr), a new segment of the Skyway network will open to the public in the forthcoming year.
Tje Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3 (MMSS3) Project – Section 2a, na magkokonekta sa North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) to the Skyway will open in 2027 and serve as a vital link connecting the northern and southern areas of the National Capital Region and beyond.
Last Wednesday, March 11, Lopez, together with Public Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon, and Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) Executive Director Jay Art Tugade inspected the ongoing construction works along Section 2a in Pandacan, Manila.
The 1.2-kilometer long, 2×2 elevated lane with Interconnection Structure will serve as an alternative route for trucks, lessening the volume of traffic in certain areas of Manila, such as R-10, Altura, España, and Araneta.
As per Lopez, the new Skyway connector will cut travel times from Buendia to Karuhatan from two hours to just 25 to 30 minutes.
Meanwhile, it will make commute times between Buendia and Port Area to the same length once it becomes operational in 2027.
“Ang benepisyo dito ay ang sinasabi ng ating Pangulo na we have to cut travel time,” emphasized Lopez. “‘Yung oras natin na nasasayang sa trapiko, sa congestion sa kalsada ay we can spend more of it sa ating pamilya. Ang makikinabang dito is around 30,000 vehicles per day.”
Meanwhile, the DOTr is also said that it concentrated on sorting the right-of-way (ROW) issues of the project, which enabled the construction to finally proceed after a six-year delay.
Mega conglomerate San Miguel Corporation (SMC), led by its president Ramon Ang, also helped the government in solving the matter.
For his part, Secretary Dizon of the DPWH noted, “Finally nagawa nating bilisan ang right-of-way acquisition and now ito na, full blast na tayo. Laking ginhawa nito sa travellers both going North and going South. Malaking bagay ito na may second connection from North to South.”