SMC unit to start construction of NLEX-SLEX road

MANILA, Philippines - Citra Central Expressway Corp. (CCEC), a unit of diversified conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC), is set to start the construction of a P26.5-billion expressway that would connect the North and South Luzon tollroad systems this month.

The proponent and concessionaire of the proposed Metro manila Skyway Stage 3 has tentatively scheduled the groundbreaking for the project within the month and would start advance works including excavation, bored piling, pile cap and column works along Osmena Highway from F. Torres Street towards Quirino Ave. in Manila.

The CCEC hopes to complete the project within 36 months from a full-scale construction starting April this year.

“To strategically cut down the process of right-of-way acquisition and speed up project completion, CCEC adopts an engineering design that is a first-in-the Philippines,” it added.

Aside from SMC, other partners in the concessionaire include Citra Lamtoro Gung Persada and the state-run Philippine National Construction Corp. (PNCC).

The company intends to construct a double deck roadway along certain sections of the Stage 3 alignment from Plaza Dilao to N. Domingo in San Juan City and to Quezon Ave. up to the end of Bonifacio Blvd in Sgt. Rivera.

“The double-deck elevated expressway was conceptualized in view of the predictable construction timetable while, experience-wise, the delivery and acquisition of the required right-of-way is not,” the company said in a statement.

Late last September, Malacañang gave CCEC the green light to start the construction of the 14.8-kilometer expressway that would connect the North and South Luzon tollroad systems decongesting traffic in Metro Manila including EDSA, C5 Road, and Central Manila.

The elevated expressway starting at the end of the existing Skyway Stage 1 in Buendia would run through the length of Osmena Highway, Quirino Ave.e, Paco, Sta. Mesa via the Nagtahan flyovers, traverse Aurora Blvd and Araneta Ave. up to Sgt Rivera Road and end at the bend of A Bonifacio Ave. towards North Luzon Expressway (NLEX).

The flood free and mostly elevated six-lane expressway would also reduce pollution, provide greater comfort and safety to the motorists and result in large savings in travel time, fuel and vehicle maintenance costs.

The project would also provide around 6,000 direct jobs and additional indirect jobs of around 10,000 during construction. Preparatory and advance works would commence before the end of the year.

CCEC is appealing for public understanding and cooperation as the Skyway Stage 3 advance work along Osmena Highway may cause some inconvenience.

SMC through SMC’s Private Infra Dev. Corp. (PIDC) is in the middle of the construction of the P24 billion Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX) and expects to complete the 88.6-kilometer stretch in 2016.

It is also scheduled to start the construction of the P16 billion Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Expressway after winning the bidding conducted by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) with an upfront payment of P11 billion.