Somco promises some relief for SLEx motorists

MANILA, Philippines — A unit of conglomerate San Miguel Corp. said that “heavy” preliminary construction activities at the Skyway extension in southern Metro Manila would be finished by November, bringing some relief ahead of the expected Christmas rush.

Skyway O&M Corp. (Somco) on Tuesday issued the update on the P10-billion road project, whose construction triggered multihour traffic jams on Sept. 24.

Specifically, motorists, by the end of November, can start using the third northbound lane of the South Luzon Expressway (SLEx)—the outermost lane after the Alabang Viaduct. The lane has been closed due to preliminary works at the Skyway extension.

Somco president Manuel Bonoan said the company started work on the extension project after it obtained the go-signal from the national and local government.

This was to ensure that construction activities would be completed before the busy Christmas season, he stressed, adding that it would also allow the first phase of the Skyway extension from Muntinlupa to Susana Heights to be finished by the end of December 2020.

“We ask for understanding and patience from our motorists for this temporary inconvenience,” Bonoan said.

The extension project is part of the Skyway master plan, which aims to decongest SLEx and Skyway.