Skyway Stage 3 closed for safety audit until 5am of Jan. 15

MANILA, Philippines — The Skyway Stage 3, which connects the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) to the South Luzon Expressway (SLEx), will be closed from Wednesday night to 5:00 a.m. of Friday, Jan. 15 for a safety audit.

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPHW) Secretary Mark Villar said on Wednesday that the temporary closure was meant to allow a check if the elevated highway was ready to accommodate motorists safely.

“Safety audit, as well as stakeholders’ feedback is necessary as road traffic measures must adopt to fit with the current road situation,” he said.

Although opened for public use last Dec. 29, the 18-kilometer Skyway that slithers through the heart of Metro Manila is still unfinished. According to the DPWH, some entry and exit ramps are still being completed by contractor San Miguel Corp. and its subsidiary CITRA Central Expressway Corp. (CCEC).

“All ramps are expected to be completed and opened in 2021 according to Secretary Villar,” DPWH said.

“Once fully-completed, motorists will be able to utilize all the Skyway Stage 3 ramps at Buendia, Quirino, Plaza Dilao and Nagtahan, Aurora Boulevard, E. Rodriguez, Quezon Avenue, Sgt. Rivera, and the NLEX interchange,” it added.

The P44 billion Skyway Stage 3, seen to alleviate heavy traffic flow from Metro Manila’s major thoroughfares, especially EDSA.

It will allow motorists coming from southern areas of the National Capital Region to take the Buendia exit in Makati up towards various points as mentioned above, which culminates at the NLEx Balintawak Toll Plaza in Quezon City.

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