SMC’s P95-B Pasig River toll road project OK’d

Conglomerate San Miguel Corp. (SMC) said its P95-billion Pasig River Expressway (Parex) project in Metro Manila was approved by the government, allowing construction of the 19.37-kilometer toll road to proceed.

The six-lane elevated toll road, which will take five years to complete, will be built over the Pasig River and connect the eastern and western portions of the capital district. It will also be linked to SMC’s Skyway 3, connecting Metro Manila’s north to south corridor.

SMC president Ramon S. Ang called the Parex “the future urban transport” since it would cater to motorists, public commuters, bikers, pedestrians and a separate water ferry project serving points along the Pasig River.

‘Future urban transport’

“This will be an inclusive, user-centered infrastructure that will integrate various modes of transportation beyond cars,” Ang said.

The project’s supplemental toll operations agreement was signed on Tuesday by Ang, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade, Public Works and Highways Undersecretary Maria Cabral, Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) Executive Director Alvin Carullo and TRB Board Member Raymundo Junia.

Tugade said during the event the project was not just for motorists since it would benefit the public by helping decongest parts of Metro Manila and also power economic growth.

Parex will run from the Radial Road 10 in the City of Manila to C-6 road, also known as the future South East Metro Manila Expressway (Semme) in Taguig.

East-west connection

It will have three major segments, according to SMC. Segment 1 is from R-10 to Plaza Azul, Manila; Segment 2 from Pandacan to C-5, and Segment 3 from C-5 to C-6.

Parex will also connect to, and utilize a 2.7-km portion of the new Skyway Stage 3 from Nagtahan to Plaza Azul, the company said.

“Once operational, Parex will serve as the east-west connection, linking up with Skyway 3 and Semme virtually making every major city in Metro Manila accessible via expressway,” SMC said.

Ang said SMC had tapped the group of Architect Felino Palafox Jr. to help design the Parex project.

The conglomerate is also spearheading a P2-billion Pasig River cleanup drive that aims to remove some 3 million metric tons of silt and solid waste from the river over a five-year period. INQ