Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark Villar couldn't resist testing out a newly-opened section of Skyway Stage 3 before announcing its formal opening Thursday, April 22.
“Kung papunta po kayong Manila, pwede na pong dumaan dito (If you are going to Manila, you can now use this), Villar said, referring to the Nagtahan off-ramp of Skyway Stage 3.
"Galing po akong Muntinlupa area, mabilis lang ang biyahe. Umakyat ako sa bagong northbound on ramp and all the way here inabot ng less than 30 minutes (I came from Muntinlupa area, travel was quick. It only took me 30 minutes to get here through the new northbound on ramp all the way here),” he said.
Satisfied with his test drive, the DPWH chief said motorists can now use the off-ramp if they want to get to Manila faster.
The Cabinet official also disclosed that the on-ramp portion of the Nagtahan section is penciled for a May opening.
The 18-kilometer elevated expressway became operational early this year. It connects Buendia in Makati City to Balintawak in Quezon City, providing an alternate link between the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) and North Luzon Expressway (NLEX),
It is among the key road projects designed to decongest the Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA), as it can redirect about 55,000 motorists from the latter.