SLEx extension adds to SMC’s growing toll road portfolio

San Miguel Corp. (SMC) president Ramon Ang said they delivered on a promise to connect toll road projects in Metro Manila following the completion of the P14-billion South Luzon Expressway (SLEx) elevated extension project.

Inaugurated by President Duterte on Tuesday, Ang said the 19-kilometer SLEx extension project, which began two years ago, provides seamless connectivity to San Miguel’s Skyway system and the North Luzon Expressway.

Ang said in a statement the newly-opened toll road also provides easier access to “thousands of motorists who go home every day to Muntinlupa, Las Pinas, Cavite, Laguna and Batangas.”

“With both the southbound and northbound section of the SLEx extension now fully operational, travel to and from the south is easier and faster than ever,” he added.

The SLEx extension was designed to accommodate 200,000 vehicles per day.

San Miguel opened the 4-km two-lane southbound alignment last Dec. 10. This connected the Skyway system in Sucat to SLEx in Susanna Heights, Muntinlupa, improving access to the Alabang urban hub in southern Metro Manila.

Following the opening of the southbound lanes in December, San Miguel also fully reopened the Alabang-Zapote Road Skyway ramp. This was closed while the construction of the SLEx extension project was underway.

“On behalf of all our Filipino engineers and the workers who made this possible, we thank the public for their patience,” Ang said.

“With this, we can look forward to faster, more efficient travel, transport of goods, and improved trade throughout our cities and provinces. These will play a significant part in our economic recovery,” he added.

The project expands San Miguel’s growing toll road portfolio, which also includes Ninoy Aquino International Airport Expressway, Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway and Southern Tagalog Arterial Road Tollway.

—Miguel R. Camus