Ahead of the December 1 opening of a new, two-lane Alabang-Skyway ramp, and the reopening of a third lane at the at-grade section, San Miguel Corp. president and chief operating officer Ramon Ang lauded government’s efforts to ensure the project would be completed in time.
“Given the tight timetable we had to implement major engineering and construction works, we could not have completed the new ramp and the initial phase of construction for the Skyway Extension, without the “bayanihan” spirit demonstrated by the team of President Rodrigo Duterte, led by the Department of Public Works and Highways and the Department of Transportation (DoTR),” Ang said.
“Recognizing both the importance of the project and addressing the current traffic situation, the DPWH, through Secretary Mark Villar, lent us much-needed resources, including bridge construction materials, to ensure that the new ramp will be built in time,” he added.
The ramp is part of preliminary works for the Skyway Extension project, a P10-billion initiative by Ssn Miguel to ease traffic on the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX), by giving motorists access to the Skyway from Susana Heights and the Muntinlupa-Cavite Expressway (MCX).
“With the new ramp and the reopening of the third at-grade lane, northbound traffic will now have up to five lanes during rush hours. This is already a big improvement from what we had prior to the start of construction, which was just three lanes on the Alabang viaduct and Skyway at-grade,” Ang said.
“With this, we expect the current traffic situation to improve, even as we continue construction of the Skyway Extension, which is set for completion by 2020,” he added.
“Apart from the DPWH, the DOTR, under Secretary Art Tugade, and the local government of Muntinlupa, led by Mayor Jaime Fresnedi and the Council, were also a big help,” Ang said.
“Whatever help we needed, they were there to extend support. Because of their collective efforts and teamwork, we were able to complete all the work that was needed to ease the current traffic situation and lay the groundwork for the Skyway Extension,” he said.