Photo of Skyway 3. From SMC Media Affairs
MANILA, Philippines — The Quirino southbound exit of the Skyway Stage 3 elevated expressway is now open to Class-1 vehicles, San Miguel Corporation (SMC) announced Monday.
SMC president Ramon S. Ang said the opening of the Quirino southbound exit “will greatly improve accessibility from Quezon City and Manila.”
SMS said the operation of the Quirino southbound exit will let motorists coming from Balintawak and Quezon Ave. in Quezon City directly reach Manila in less than 20 minutes – without traffic – from 1.5 hours.
“With more private vehicles diverted to Skyway Stage 3 on their way back from NLEX, or coming from Quezon Ave., to Manila, traffic on our major public roads as well as on streets usually utilized as ‘short cuts’ or ‘alternate routes’, will be a thing of the past,” said Ang in a statement.
Ang was joined by Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark Villar during Monday’s opening of the Quirino southbound exit.
“This will redound to relief from congestion and faster and easier commutes for many of our countrymen on our major thoroughfares. We thank President Duterte and the government team led by Secretary Villar for all their support.”
Villar, for his part, said: “The full completion of Skyway Stage 3 will divert at least 75,000 vehicles away from EDSA or C5. This is a realization of President Duterte’s promise to decongest EDSA. Skyway Stage 3 is proof that the private sector and the government can work together towards a unified solution.”
SMC, which fully funded and built 100% of the Skyway Stage 3, said the expressway now has 15 operational ramps:
Northbound Entry/On-Ramps:
• Buendia (Zobel)
• Quezon Avenue
Southbound Entry/On-Ramps:
• Balintawak
• Quezon Avenue
• Plaza Dilao
Northbound Exit/Off-Ramps:
• Quirino Avenue
• Nagtahan
• Quezon Avenue
• A. Bonifacio
• Balintawak
Southbound Exit/Off-Ramps:
• Quezon Avenue
• E. Rodriguez
• Nagtahan
• Quirino
• Buendia (Zobel)
The Skyway Stage 3 was formally opened in January to connect Buendia, Makati City, and Balintawak, Quezon City, and vice versa.
The Skyway system – including Skyway 1 and 2 – is a 38-kilometer elevated expressway with 36 on- and off-ramp access points that SMC projected will greatly improve accessibility, transportation, and traffic conditions throughout Metro Manila.