SAN MIGUEL Corp. (SMC) has committed to work 24/7 to open the Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3 — a portion of which had collapsed due to fire last Saturday — by July this year.
A portion of the elevated expressway project collapsed last Saturday from a fire at a nearby warehouse in Pandacan, Manila, forcing the SMC to delay the opening of the skyway project by three months to July.
“We are saddened by this unfortunate incident mainly because it will delay a vital infrastructure project that would have alleviated traffic woes of our motorists sooner. But rest assured, we will work 24/7 to endeavor to complete the entire project in five months. This is just a 3-month delay from the original opening target,” SMC President and Chief Operating Officer Ramon S. Ang was quoted as saying in a statement on Monday.
A portion of the elevated expressway project had collapsed last Saturday “from a fire at a nearby warehouse in Pandacan, Manila,” SMC said.
The company noted that the project contractor had initially estimated that it would take “eight months” for them to rebuild the damaged portion of the project.
SMC said the project was supposedly set to be opened to the public by “April 1” this year.
“Initial investigation showed that the fire was a freak accident that could have likely emanated from the DMCI construction yard that eventually spread to its nearby plastics warehouse, which at that time was in the process of being relocated out of Pandacan,” SMC said.
“The relocation is part of the company’s efforts to clear its properties in Pandacan, in consideration of Skyway and future projects. Earlier, SMC completed the removal of subsidiary Petron Corporation’s oil depot facilities in the area,” it added.
The project is an 18.30-kilometer elevated toll road that will connect Gil Puyat Ave. (formerly Buendia) in Makati City to the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) toll plaza in Balintawak, Quezon City.
The Skyway Stage 3 will have eight access ramps: along Gil Puyat Ave. (South Super Highway, Makati City), Pres. Quirino Ave. (Malate, Manila), Plaza Dilao (Paco, Manila), Nagtahan/Aurora Boulevard (Manila), E. Rodriguez Ave. (Quezon City), Quezon Ave. (Quezon City), Sgt. Rivera St. (Quezon City), and NLEx.
Once the whole alignment is completed, it is expected to reduce travel time from Buendia to Balintawak to 15-20 minutes from the current two hours. — Arjay L. Balinbin
