San Miguel Corporation (SMC) today (April 22) formally opened the Nagtahan northbound and southbound exit ramps of the new Skyway Stage 3 elevated expressway enabling motorists north and south to access Sta. Mesa and the City of Manila directly, in record time, announced President Ramon S. Ang.
“The concessionaire is taking advantage of the dry season to fast-track the completion of ramps so more motorists can reap the benefits of additional interchanges in between Buendia and NLEX,” according to Department of Publ8c Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark Villar.
“The timely opening of all interchanges will further reduce traffic along major NCR roads, most specifically Edsa, Quezon Avenue, Araneta Avenue. Nagtahan, and Quirio Avenue,” he added.
“We are committed to fully delivering the remaining access ramps of Skyway 3 in the soonest possible time," Ang pledged.
With the Nagtahan exits, motorists coming from both SLEX and NLEX or other points of entry to the Skyway 3, can opt to get to their destinations in Manila without having to go through traffic or contribute to traffic on major public roads and busy streets, he explained.
SMC fully-funded the Skyway Stage 3 project, including the acquisition of right-of-way properties and reconstruction of public bridges, to ensure no taxpayer money is spent on the project.
The operator officially opened the main alignment of the elevated expressway last January. However, due to right-of-way issues, delivery of some access ramps had to come a little later.
Northbound ramps will be opened next, Ang declared.
These include the Quirino exit (heading to Roxas Blvd.), Quirino entry, Nagtahan entry, E. Rodriguez Entry, and Sgt. Rivera (C3) exit.
Meanwhile, southbound access points to be opened soon are the A. Bonifacio entry, Sgt. Rivera (C3) exit, Sgt. Rivera (C3) entry, and Quirino exit.
With the opening of the Nagtahan exits, operational access ramps of Skyway 3 now include: Northbound -- Buendia (Zobel) entry, Quirino Avenue exit, Nagtahan exit, Quezon Avenue exit, Quezon Avenue entry, A. Bonifacio exit and Balintawak exit; Southbound -- Balintawak entry, Quezon Avenue exit, Quezon Avenue entry, E. Rodriguez exit, Nagtahan exit, Plaza Dilao entry, and Buendia (Zobel) exit.
Recently, SMC also opened the four-kilometer northbound section of the Skyway Extension project from Susana Heights to Sucat, allowing motorists from provinces south of Metro Manila to directly access the Skyway System without having to go through the Alabang viaduct.
The Skyway Extension enables motorists from Batangas, Laguna, Cavite to travel to many points in Metro Manila, all the way to NLEX.
"With work on the southbound section now at an accelerated pace, we are closer to fully realizing seamless connection between southern and northern Luzon,” Ang noted.
The 18-kilometer Skyway Stage 3 reduces travel time from Buendia to Balintawak to 20 minutes; Alabang to Balintawak to 30 minutes.
The Skyway Stage 3 and the Skyway Extension project are part of SMC’s 38-kilometer elevated Skyway System connecting the South Luzon Expressway to the North Luzon Expressway.