SMC proposes elevated EDSA expressway
MANILA, Philippines — The government and San Miguel Corp. (SMC) are discussing the possibility of having an elevated expressway along EDSA.
“For decongesting Metro Manila, we have a proposal like elevated EDSA. Me and Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade are discussing to have an elevated expressway on EDSA, meaning from Macapagal Avenue all the way to Balintawak or Samson Road, Quezon City,” SMC president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang said on Wednesday.
Ang said the proposal is a 10-lane expressway, composed of five southbound lanes and five northbound lanes.
He said the company plans to submit the proposal to the Department of Transportation (DOTr) by next week.
Should the project be approved, Ang said it can be made operational within 24 to 30 months.
“What Mr. Ang is offering is that he’ll do it. If the government sees it as viable and it wants to buy it at cost, he will sell it. So that means, if the government now wants to take over the facility, it just has to pay him for the expenses. Otherwise, SMC will operate it,” Transportation Undersecretary for planning Ruben Reinoso said separately.
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority general manager Jojo Garcia said yesterday the MMDA will support any improvement in infrastructure to solve Metro Manila traffic.
“Any infrastructure, we will need. But we will need to study this further. Construction itself will affect traffic again,” he said. – Marc Jayson Cayabyab
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