President Quirino ramp of Skyway to open by Q2 2018 – DPWH

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)  (Photo: Department of Public Works and Highways, Philippines/Facebook)

MANILA, Aug. 9 — Motorists will be able to access the present Metro Manila Skyway system from South Luzon Expressway up to President Quirino Avenue in Manila beginning on the second quarter of 2018, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said on Wednesday.

According to DPWH Secretary Mark Villar, the opening of the portion of the Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3 worth PHP37.43 Billion will help decongest traffic in major thoroughfares in the National Capital Region (NCR).

“DPWH has delivered significant road right-of-way requirements for the project as we aim to open a new on-and-off ramp along President Quirino Avenue by second quarter of 2018 to help decongest traffic along major thoroughfares like EDSA, C.P. Garcia or C-5 and Central Metro Manila,” he said in a statement.

The DPWH chief made the announcement during the inspection of the project along with Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade on Wednesday.

Construction of the 14.8 kilometers – six-lane elevated expressway will connect Buendia, Makati City to Balintawak, Quezon City from the usual two hours to just 15 to 20 minutes.

It is designed to have eight strategically located interchanges in Buendia Avenue, President Quirino Avenue, Plaza Dilao and Nagtahan, Aurora Boulevard, E. Rodriguez Avenue, Quezon Avenue, Sgt. Rivera and Balintawak, with a total of fourteen toll plazas.

“Whenever other new on-and-off ramps are completed between the 3.76 kilometers Buendia, Makati City to Plaza Dilao, Manila section; 3.54 kilometers Plaza Dilao to Aurora Boulevard, Manila section; 2.71 kilometers Aurora Boulevard to Quezon Avenue, Quezon City section; and 4.81 kilometers Quezon Avenue to Bonifacio Avenue section, we will open the expressway facility to the motoring public right away,” Villar added.

The road infrastructure project will connect the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) and North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) is being built by concessionaire San Miguel Corporation Infrastructure at no cost to government.

Also present during the inspection were Bases Conversion and Development Authority President Vivencio Dizon, DPWH Undersecretary Maria Catalina Cabral, Transportation Undersecretary Albert Suansing and Assistant Secretary Leah Quiambao, and Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) Executive Director Abraham Sales.