Skyway O&M Corp. (SOMCO) assured motorists that they will get a reprieve from traffic in the south by November when heavy preliminary works are targeted for completion, just before much of the Christmas rush.
SOMCO president Manuel Bonoan said the company had to immediately start construction of the more than P10-billion project soon as it got the go-signal from both national and local government, to ensure that initial work would be completed before the busiest time of the year.
By end of November, he said, motorists will be able to use the third lane that is currently closed due to preliminary works for the project.
“We ask for understanding and patience from our motorists for this temporary inconvenience. We understand your frustration but given that the holiday season is fast approaching, we have to be aggressive with the schedule as it is our best ‘window’ to complete preliminary road works before peak traffic season,” Bonoan said.
He added that the present “window” also gives them a better chance of fully completing the project by its target date of early December next year--again, before the Christmas rush. That is, barring significant delays beyond its control.
WHY THE PROJECT IS IMPORTANT
Bonoan further emphasized the importance of the project:
- It is part of Phase 1 of the Skyway extension masterplan, designed to decongest traffic South Luzon Expressway and Skyway, which serve populous provinces south of Metro Manila such as Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, and beyond.
- It was initiated by SMC Tollways to provide a solution to perennial traffic congestion on the SLEX.
- If nothing is done, traffic is expected to worsen as current vehicle volume of about 1 million cars increases every year--especially with the growth in residential developments and business locators in Cavite, Laguna, Batangas.
- Under the plan, both the northbound and southbound lanes of the Skyway will be extended all the way to Susana Heights. As such, it will also allow for direct access to and from the Muntinlupa-Cavite Expressway (MCX).
- This will add an estimated 4,500 vehicles per hour capacity to the northbound expressway, and around 3,000 vehicles capacity per hour, southbound
- The company said it is targeting completion of the entire Phase 1 (Muntinlupa to Susana Heights) by December, 2020.
- With the full completion of the project, light vehicles will have a choice of no longer competing for space with trucks, as they will have the option to go directly to Skyway.
- Vehicles from the south taking the Skyway will have full access to all Skyway system exits; they can bypass the Alabang viaduct and head directly to NAIA, Pasay, Makati, Manila, Quezon City, all the way to Balintawak and the North Luzon Expressway.
- Phase 2 and 3, to be implemented in the future, will involve expansion of the Bicutan, Sucat, and Alabang-Zapote Road access points, to decongest traffic in those areas.
“Again, our aggressive target to complete Phase 1 is by December next year. There are possible causes of delay: right-of-way issues, moving of pipelines, power lines, and the like. However, with the leadership and full support of government, we’re confident we can still fast-track and complete it in a relatively shorter period of time,” Bonoan said.
NEW TRAFFIC SCHEME
He also outlined a traffic scheme that should improve the traffic situation for affected vehicles and allow for the restoration of three lanes for the northbound SLEX.
- A northbound counter-flow on the southbound SLEX will be opened as needed, depending on southbound traffic volume.
- Meanwhile, the northbound direction will be limited to two lanes along the construction area, to be complemented by counter-flow lanes to ensure that:
- There will be lesser traffic buildup and no bottlenecks closer to the Alabang viaduct—the major cause of the traffic buildup last week;
- There will still be three lanes utilized for northbound vehicles, which is the normal situation;
- More traffic personnel will be deployed at all critical areas to help ensure vehicles are moving at all times. Motorists wanting to bypass the area can also take alternate routes such as the MCX.
Meanwhile, the company advises motorists in advance that the East Service Road will be converted to one-way traffic, northbound from Alabang to Sucat Interchange effective October 8 at 10 PM, until end of November.
The Alabang North Bound Entry Plaza will also be relocated to the vicinity of Amkor Anam, to improve merging traffic flow from the viaduct.