San Miguel Corp. said Monday it is on track to completing the entire northbound section of the Skyway Extension project (Susana Heights to Sucat) by December this year despite the delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
San Miguel president Ramon Ang said construction works accelerated at the northbound section, from the Soldiers Hills area to the Sucat mainline toll plaza, to meet the December target.
The original target completion for the section was July 2020, but this was delayed due to the enhanced community quarantine imposed starting mid-March. Contractors of SMC returned to work in May after a two-month lockdown, to push the construction schedule.
“Because of the delays and restrictions brought on by the lockdown, we’ve had to make a lot of adjustments. But we are on track to deliver the entire northbound section of the Skyway Extension by end of this year,” Ang said.
“When we open this northbound section, motorists will enjoy smoother and faster trips from Calamba going to Makati and other parts of Metro Manila. By improving traffic flow and reducing congestion, this project will also help in accelerating trade and tourism, particularly south of Metro Manila. That is something we need to further help our economy during this pandemic, and after it,” Ang said.
He said to meet the new construction schedule, contractors should close the northbound Skyway on-ramp section before Sucat in the vicinity of Amkor Anam, starting Aug. 24 at 10 a.m. to install the remaining bored piles from Piers 1-7.
Ang said with the closure, northbound Class 1 vehicles may continue to access the steel ramp towards the elevated section of the Skyway. All Class 2 vehicles including buses and vans should take the grade section.
Skyway said the traffic scheme may be changed from time to time depending on traffic volume to ensure responsiveness to actual situations.
The company said of the 92 bored piles northbound, 85 were already completed. The fabrication of other components such as unibridge and concrete slabs is ongoing.
The whole Skyway Extension Project is expected to be completed by mid-2021, when the southbound section, from Sucat to Soldiers Hills, is completed.
