MANILA, Philippines — Tollway builder San Miguel Corp. (SMC) has increased the speed limit at the NAIA Expressway (NAIAx) and at straight sections of Skyway Stage 3 for faster vehicular movement on both roads.
Beginning today, the speed limit at NAIAx is 80 kilometers per hour from 60 kph, as directed by its concessionaire SMC.
The SMC is also enforcing a similar adjustment on speed limit along straight segments of Skyway Stage 3 starting Jan. 20.
SMC chairman and chief executive officer Ramon Ang said the increase of 20 kph in speed limit would allow motorists to travel along NAIAx and Skyway Stage 3 faster.
The adjustment supports the SMC’s reforms on traffic movement at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA), which is undergoing continuous upgrade.
“We have carefully studied this to make sure that it benefits motorists while prioritizing safety. It also complements the ongoing reconfiguration of exit plazas at NAIAx, which should allow for less congestion and help improve motorists’ experience on the expressway,” Ang said.
However, SMC is maintaining the speed limit of 60 kph on curved sections of both tollways to minimize accidents.
According to Ang, there are sharp curves at NAIAx and Skyway Stage 3 that are dangerous for motorists to cross at a pace higher than 60 kph.
“This is to maintain safety, as we do not want to put our motorists at risk of accident due to miscalculation or oversteering, especially when there are sharp curves, given the limitations to the design of both the NAIAx and Skyway Stage 3,” Ang said.
The SMC faced right of way issues during the construction of NAIAx and Skyway Stage 3, forcing the company to redesign multiple sections and access ramps to make do with the limited space.
As a result, the tollways have sharp curves where motorists have to slow down.
With a new speed limit, SMC equipped traffic patrollers with radar speed guns to catch violators.
Moreover, they are sanctioned to apprehend violators at the exits and confiscate their driver’s license.
The NAIAx connects the Skyway System with Terminals 1, 2 and 3. It also links to Entertainment City, Macapagal Boulevard, Sucat Road and road networks to Cavite.
Skyway Stage 3, on the other hand, starts along Gil Puyat Avenue in Makati and ends in Balintawak, Quezon City, where its exit bridges to the North Luzon Expressway.