San Miguel Corp. (SMC) is implementing a new traffic scheme that will help mitigate the impact of the closure of one southbound lane of Skyway at-grade starting February 16.
“Yet again, we are asking for our motorists’ patience and support. We want to do everything to make traffic more manageable. Your cooperation and observance of traffic rules and the new traffic schemes will be very critical,” said Ramon Ang SMC president and chief operating officer.
The Skyway management said in a statement over the weekend it is temporarily designating the elevated Skyway for use by Class 1 vehicles only–cars, SUVs, vans, pick-ups and other private vehicle types–while buses and delivery vans will be assigned to the at-grade section.
Under the new scheme, buses and delivery vans coming from Makati, Manila, and Pasay bound for Alabang must take the Nichols southbound entry toll plaza to the at-grade Skyway.
Buses and delivery vans from NAIA Expressway bound for Alabang must take Andrews avenue going to Sales road, then take Nichols southbound entry toll plaza to the at-grade Skyway.
From NAIA Expressway motorists can also take the Magallanes northbound off-ramp, make a U-turn under the Magallanes interchange, then head to the Nichols southbound entry toll plaza to the at-grade Skyway.
SMC said the new scheme is designed to make travel on the Skyway system more efficient with the ongoing construction for the southbound section of the P10-billion Skyway extension project.
The project, which will extend and connect the existing Skyway to the South Luzon Expressway near Susana Heights and the Muntinlupa-Cavite Expressway, involves the construction of a three-lane, elevated northbound section and a two-lane, elevated southbound section.
It will bypass the Alabang viaduct and increase the Skyway’s capacity by 4,500 vehicles per hour northbound, and 3,000 vehicles per hour southbound, giving motorists from Cavite, Laguna, Batangas and other provinces in the south, greater ease of travel to, or from, Metro Manila.
Along with the closure of the third southbound lane of Skyway at-grade from Sucat to Filinvest, also scheduled for closure starting February 16 are: the Alabang southbound and
Bunye South Station exit toll plazas; a portion of the northbound West service road, and the Hillsborough off-ramp from the elevated Skyway to at-grade Skyway.
The lane closures will give way to bored piling and column installation activities in the area, which is expected to be completed by March 30.
