New SMC expressways enter engineering phase

MANILA, Philippines — The Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) has confirmed the proposed expressways to be put up by San Miguel Corp. (SMC) are progressing in terms of their preparation toward construction.

In a series of advisories, the TRB said the Pasig River Expressway (PAREX), Northern Access Link Expressway (NALEX), Southern Access Link Express (SALEX) and South Luzon Expressway Toll Road (SLEX-TR5) are all in their detailed engineering design phase.

For PAREX, the TRB said the contractor was looking for an independent consultant and preparing an environmental compliance certification (ECC) application to be submitted to the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).

PAREX will cost an estimated P81.53 billion and will be operated by Skyway O&M Corp. for a concession period of 30 years. It will stretch for 19.37 kilometers, passing through Pasig River from Radial Road 10 in Manila to the proposed South East Metro Manila Expressway in C-6 Road.

Similarly, the TRB said that the contractor for NALEX is applying for an ECC from the DENR for the first phase of the project. It is also finding an independent consultant for the expressway that will run from Metro Manila to Central Luzon.

NALEX will require roughly P148.3 billion and will be managed by Skyway O&M Corp. for a concession period of 30 years.

The expressway will consist of two phases for a total of 136.4 kilometers and is expected to link Metro Manila with the New Manila International Airport in Bulacan up to Tarlac City.

The TRB also reported that the contractor for the SALEX is working on the procurement of an independent consultant and the submission of an ECC to the DENR.

SALEX will cost P152.39 billion based on the proposal of the contractor and will be operated by Skyway O&M Corp. for a concession period of 30 years. It will extend for around 41 kilometers comprising the Shoreline Expressway and three Skyway Stage 3 extensions: C3-R10 Extension, Quirino Extension and Buendia Extension.

Last, the TRB said that the contractor for the SLEX-TR5 is completing the procurement of an independent consultant and the filing of an ECC to the DENR for the first phase of the project. The first phase of the project will cost P28.15 billion and will be run by the Manila Toll Expressway Systems Inc.

The first part of SLEX-TR5 will extend from Lucena City to Gumaca, Quezon and will include four interchanges, namely, Pagbilao, Atimonan, Aglangan and Gumaca.

All in all, the SLEX-TR5 consists of eight segments that would stretch the expressway down to Matnog, Sorsogon.