Traffic jams seen as Skyway Extension project resumes

MANILA, Philippines — The construction of the Skyway Extension’s southbound section will start on Feb. 16, San Miguel Corp. (SMC) announced yesterday. 

In a statement, SMC president Ramon Ang apologized for the traffic problem the upcoming construction project may create.

“This project is for your benefit, it will solve our long-standing traffic problem on SLEX and in Alabang. Let’s give our engineers and workers the chance to do what they need to finish the project,” Ang said, referring to the South Luzon Expressway.

Bored piling and column installation will be done in the area and Ang said it is expected to be completed in six weeks.

According to Ang, stakeholders that include Skyway O&M, the Muntinlupa City government and administrators of Filinvest Alabang Inc. (FAI) have jointly approved a scheme to manage traffic flow for the duration of the construction.

The plan involves closing the southbound Lane 3 of Skyway at-grade and the northbound lane of the West Service Road, from Sucat Interchange to Alabang Viaduct.

It will also include closing the southbound Alabang exit plaza (beside the Alabang viaduct) and the nearby southbound Bunye South Station (heading to Crimson Hotel in Filinvest).

SMC said these closures were originally scheduled in December but were deferred due to the busy holiday season.

Affected motorists, particularly those headed to Alabang or Alabang-Zapote Road, will be rerouted to the Filinvest exit and through Filinvest City.

In September last year, motorists and commuters complained about heavy traffic along SLEX’s northbound lane when its outermost lane after the Alabang viaduct was closed to allow for the construction of the Skyway Extension’s northbound section.

Set for completion in December 2020, the P10-billion Skyway Extension project will add two lanes going north for a total of five northbound lanes and three lanes going south for a total of four southbound lanes.

It will provide motorists a direct connection to Skyway 1 and 2 and Skyway 3, which is set to open in April.