The Skyway 3 Project, which cuts travel time from Metro Manila's north to south, will be on soft opening starting Tuesday, Dec. 29, and will be free to motorists for one month, said its builder, San Miguel Corp.
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"We are glad to finally welcome motorists, even on a limited capacity, starting Dec. 29. While this is only a partial opening, given the scale and importance of this project, this is a very significant development," San Miguel Corp's president and chief operating officer Ramon S. Ang said.
Motorists can use up to four lanes of the Skyway 3. By Jan. 14, SMC will formally open all 7 lanes of the 18-kilometer stretch from Buendia, Makati to NLEX. The project is the country's longest elevated expressway and is part of the "Build, Build, Build" program.
According to Ang, the company would have opened up the Skyway 3 for partial operations sooner but disruptions brought about by the recent typhoons hindered that goal.
"We cannot rush the curing of concrete and preparation for asphalt, because these have to be given enough time and have to be done according to the highest specifications to ensure quality and safety," he said.
The Skyway 1, 2, and Skyway Extension run for a total of 20 kilometers, with the Skyway 3 bumping that up to a total of 38 kilometers. The Skyway Extension project at the southern end is expected to finish construction by next year, giving the entire Skyway a total of 36 access points from end to end.
The Skyway project is seen to slash travel time between Makati and NLEX to just 20 minutes, and between Alabang and NLEX to just 30 minutes. Apart from cutting time on the road, it also aims to reduce traffic on EDSA and serve as an alternative to the busy thoroughfare.
