The entire Skyway Stage 3 is expected to open for public use by December, Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar said Thursday.
(ALI VICOY / MANILA BULLETIN)
While the 18-kilometer elevated expressway has been completed, it will have to undergo finishing and asphalting before it will be opened for public use.
“Tapos na yung main line so gagawin na lang yung finishing, safety devices, and asphalting but significantly kumpleto na. (The main line is already done while finishing, safety devices, and asphalting are under way but it’s now significantly complete),” Villar said during a televised press briefing.
“Definitely before the end of the year at the latest, by December magagamit na (it can finally be used),” Villar added.
The P44.86-billion Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3 connects Buendia, Makati City to the North Luzon Expressway in Balintawak, Quezon City, providing a direct link between the two major expressways in Luzon --the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) and North Luzon Expressway (NLEX). It is seen to reduce travel time between both ends from two hours to only 30 minutes.
It also aims to decongest traffic in Metro Manila by as much as 55,000 vehicles daily by providing a diversion road for the overly-congested Epifanio delos Santos Avenue, Circumferential Road-5, and other major roads in Metro Manila like Quezon Avenue, Araneta Avenue, Nagtahan Bridge, and Quirino Avenue.
“Napakalaking bagay (ang maitutulong nito). ‘Pag natapos ito isipin n’yo na lang from Makati 15 minutes lang nasa NLEX ka na. (This would greatly help. Once fully completed, just think about getting to NLEX from Makati in 15 minutes),” Villar said.
The secretary added that building the elevated expressway is part of the bigger goal to bring back the original capacity of EDSA.