Photo by Ali Vicoy
The Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3, which will connect NLEX to SLEX is nearing completion. One can even dare to think of better motoring days ahead when the columns, ramps and concrete elevated road are finally connected.
And that’s not going to be very long. The Department of Public Works and Highways expects the Skyway’s mainline from Buendia to Balintawak to be completed by the first quarter of next year.
In a few days, an almost four-kilometer portion of the Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3 will be opened from Plaza Dilaw in Paco, to Buendia.
"Construction of Skyway Stage 3 is in full blast. We are working 24/7 to deliver theinfrastructure this July," Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary, Mark Villar, said when he inspected the portion recently.
The project will effectively connect NLEX and SLEX. It will be "substantially completed" within the year.
Villar said that Section 1 from Buendia Avenue in Makati City to Quirino Avenue in Nagtahan, Manila is now 83 percent completed while Section 3 from Ramon Magsaysay Avenue to Balintawak is 81 percent completed.
The Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3 is an 18.68-kilometer elevated expressway stretched over Metro Manila from Buendia, Makati City to Balintawak, Quezon City. The elevated toll road will connect Gil Puyat Ave. (formerly Buendia) in Makati City to the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) toll plaza in Balintawak, Quezon City.
It is divided into five sections: Section 1 from Buendia Avenue, Makati City to President Quirino Avenue, Manila City; Section 2A from Pres. Quirino Avenue Manila to Tomas Claudio Street, Manila; Section 2B from Tomas Claudio Street, Manila to Aurora Boulevard, Manila; Section 3 from Aurora Boulevard, Manila to Quezon Avenue, Quezon City; Section 4 from Quezon Avenue, Quezon City to A. Bonifacio Avenue, Quezon `City and Section 5 from A. Bonifacio, Quezon City to NLEX.
The whole project will have eight access ramps or interchanges: at Buendia Avenue, (South Super Highway, Makati City), Pres. Quirino Avenue (Malate, Manila), Plaza Dilao (Paco, Manila), Nagtahan/Aurora Boulevard (Manila), E. Rodriguez Avenue (Quezon City), Quezon Avenue (Quezon City), Sgt. Rivera Street (Quezon City) and NLEX, will reduce travel time from Buendia, Makati City to Balintawak, Quezon City.
The remaining segment from Balintawak to the NLEx toll plaza is expected to be completed in the first quarter of next year. The Skyway Stage 3 is being implemented under a P37.43-billion budget.
Last year, a kilometer portion of the project was opened –from Buendia Avenue up to near Java Street in Makati City.
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P2P buses in Panay IslandOne hundred five point-to-point (P2P) buses will start plying various routes in Panay Island starting July 12, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) in Western Visayas announced.
The LTFRB will also introduce 385 taxis and 165 jeepneys that are air-conditioned and equipped with Wi-Fi and automated fare collection system.
Megaworld has built a P350-million terminal in Iloilo City for the new bus service. The Transport Hub is located in the 72-hectare Iloilo Business Park in Mandurriao District.
During the pilot run, the buses will ply the routes of Iloilo City Business Park, the main hub, to Caticlan Airport, Kalibo Airport, and Iloilo Airport, and vice-versa.
By Pinky Concha Colmenares