SMC revises Skyway alignment

MANILA, Philippines - Diversified conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC) has changed the alignment of the proposed P15.86 billion Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) expressway Phase 2 to minimize traffic congestion around the area.

Skyway O&M Corp. president Manuel Bonoan told participants of the 2014 Business Journalism Seminar organized by SMC and the Economic Journalists Association of the Philippines (EJAP) that the alignment of the proposed expressway has been diverted along Estero Tripa de Gallina to decongest traffic around the NAIA Road, Domestic Road, and Airport Road.

The NAIA Expressway starts at the existing Skyway then follows the existing road alignments over Sales Ave., Andrews Ave., Domestic Road, and NAIA Road.

Under the revised alignment, Bonoan said the proposed expressway would pass through along the Estero Tripa de Gallina instead of the congested Domestic Road.

“To avoid putting structure at Domestic Road and Airport Road,  we might be at the back of Park ‘N Fly,” he added.

Bonoan said the revision in the alignment of the proposed expressway would entail a change in the total project cost.

However, he said the revised project cost would still have to be finalized.

In July last year, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) inked a concession agreement with SMC’s Optimal Infrastructure for the proposed expressway under the Aquino administration’s public-private partnership (PPP) scheme.

It would be recalled that the P11 billion bid of the SMC unit edged the P305 million submitted by Manila North Tollways Luzon Corp. (MNTC) of publicly-held infrastructure conglomerate Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC) in April last year.

The 7.15 kilometer four-lane NAIA Expressway project is a strategic part of the envisioned Metro Manila Urban Expressway System to be built around a network of expressways serving Metro Manila.

The project valued at P15.86 billion would provide access to NAIA Terminals 1, 2, and 3 linking the Skyway in the South Luzon expressway (SLEX) and the Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway (Cavitex).

It would also support the development of the Philippine Amusement Gaming Corp. (PAGCOR) Entertainment City located along the Manila Bay reclamation area. It will well connect all three terminals of the NAIA Complex and ease the flow of traffic to and from the airport.

The project involves the improvement of Phase 1, the construction of Phase 2, the construction of at-grade feeder roads leading to and from PAGCOR Entertainment City , and the operation and maintenance.

The first phase of the road project was completed by SMC’s Citra Metro Manila Tollways Corp. through the construction of an off-ramp that leads to the front of the NAIA Terminal 3.

Bonoan said the civil works for Phase II-A between the Entertainment City and NAIA Terminals 1 and 2 would be on full blast in either in May or June this year.

On the other hand, Phase II-B covers Domestic Road to NAIA Terminal 3 at Sales Street.