The expansion of South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) to six lanes on each side is expected to be completed by December, just in time for the holiday season, according to San Miguel Corp. (SMC).
Meanwhile, NLEX Corp.’s five kilometer Candaba third viaduct project is now over 60 percent complete and will be operational by fourth quarter.
SMC’s SLEX expansion is 70 percent complete.
“The SLEX expansion will be a significant boost to the Calabarzon region, which currently generates almost 20 percent of the country’s GDP (gross domestic product),” Ramon Ang, SMC president and chief executive officer, said in a statement.
The SLEX expansion project, led by SMC SLEX Inc., aims to widen the expressway from the current three to four lanes to six lanes on each side.
Ang sought the public’s understanding on the temporary traffic slowdowns experienced along the expressway due to ongoing construction works
While most landowners affected by the SLEX expansion project have been cooperative, a few have raised challenges by demanding excessive disturbance fees that threaten to increase project costs and potentially delay completion.
SMC said it is committed to resolving these issues promptly and equitably to ensure minimal disruption to all parties involved and that the project stays on schedule.
Meanwhile, J. Luigi Bautista NLEX Corp. president and general manager, said the company is on track to open the five kilometer Candaba third viaduct project by November.
As of April 22, , the project is 62 percent complete from 50 percent completion rate last February, following the installation of the first girder which marks the pivotal transition from groundwork-heavy construction to road-level work, minimizing the project’s dependence on ground access.
The Candaba viaduct project is being built in the middle of the two existing bridges that connects the towns of Pulilan, Bulacan and Apalit, Pampanga.
Upon its completion, the Candaba Viaduct will be widened to three lanes with inner and outer shoulders in each direction, thereby enhancing safety and mobility for motori sts.
Aside from the Candaba project, NLEX has two major infrastructure projects in the pipeline including NLEX C5-link and expansion of NLEX San Fernando to SCTEX Spur in Mabalacat.
