Despite a half year delay due to the pandemic, San Miguel Corporation (SMC) said it is on track to deliver the entire northbound section of the Skyway Extension project this December.
Construction works are now at an accelerated pace at the northbound section, from the Soldiers Hills area to the Sucat Mainline Toll Plaza, to meet the December target, SMC president Ramon S. Ang yesterday (Aug. 24, 2020) announced.
Originally, SMC set the target completion for the section this July, 2020.
However, the enhanced community quarantine starting mid-March delayed work on the project.
Contractors for SMC returned to work in May, after a two-month lockdown, to catch up with the construction schedule.
“Delays and restrictions brought on by the lockdown forced us to make a lot of adjustments. But we are on track to deliver the entire northbound section of the Skyway Extension by end of this year,” the SMC president reiterated.
“When we open this northbound section, motorists will enjoy smoother and faster trips from Calamba going to Makati and other parts of Metro Manila," he added.
"By improving traffic flow and reducing congestion, this project will also help in accelerating trade and tourism, particularly south of Metro Manila. We need that to help our economy during this pandemic and after it.”
To meet the new construction schedule, contractors closed the northbound Skyway on-ramp section before Sucat in the vicinity of Amkor Anam, starting yesterday, August 24 at 10 A.M. to install the remaining bored piles from Piers 1-7.
With the closure, northbound Class 1 vehicles may continue to access the steel ramp towards the elevated section of the Skyway.
All Class 2 vehicles including buses and vans meanwhile should take the At-Grade section.
Skyway Management laid out the new traffic scheme to ease travel conditions for those affected by the closure of the northbound on-ramp.
To date, of the 92 bored piles northbound, 85 have already been completed.
Fabrication of other components such as unibridge and concrete slabs is ongoing.
The entire Skyway Extension Project is expected to be delivered by middle of next year, when the southbound section, from Sucat to Soldiers Hills, is completed.