The Department of Public Works and Highways on Monday partially opened the Plaza Dilao ramp of Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3, which aims to ease traffic congestion in Buendia, Makati City.
DPWH Secretary Mark Villar, together with other government officials, led the opening of the initial two lanes of the Stage 3 project worth P37.43 billion.
“To ease traffic congestion in Buendia, we are opening two lanes, one of the northbound and southbound sections. The 3.7-km elevated highways expand from Buendia to Plaza Dilao,” Villar said in a statement.
“A maximum speed of 40 kph will be maintained along the main viaduct. Moreover, 20 kph at the ramps will be implemented,” the DPWH chief added.
On the other hand, Villar announced that the overall status of Skyway is now at about 60 percent, with sections 1 and 3 both more than 80 percent completed.
“Section 1 from Buendia Avenue, Makati City to Quirino Avenue in Nagtahan, Manila is now 83 percent completed, while Section 3 from Ramon Magsaysay Avenue to Balintawak is 81 percent completed,” he said.
The DPWH secretary added that other sections were being fast-tracked to ensure the Skyway’s mainline from Buendia to Balintawak meets the target completion date by the first quarter of 2020.
To date, the status of Skyway Stage 3 Section 2A from Nagtahan to Tomas Claudio is at 34 percent; Section 2B from Tomas Claudio to Ramon Magsaysay Avenue is at 60 percent; Section 4 from Quezon Avenue to Balintawak is at 51 percent; Balintawak to North Luzon Expressway is at 11 percent.
He added that Section 2A1 from Tomas Claudio to the Polytechnic University of the Philippines Sta. Mesa was set to start soon.
The Skyway Stage 3 is an 18.68-kilometer elevated expressway stretches from Buendia, Makati City to Balintawak, Quezon City.
The project will have eight access ramps/interchanges strategically located as follows: Buendia Avenue, (South Superhighway, Makati City), Pres. Quirino Avenue (Malate, Manila), Plaza Dilao (Paco, Manila), Nagtahan/Aurora Boulevard (Manila), E. Rodriguez Avenue (Quezon City), Quezon Avenue (Quezon City), Sgt. Rivera St. (Quezon City) and NLEX.
Once the project is completed, Villar said it will reduce travel time from Buendia, Makati City to Balintawak, Quezon City from the current two hours to just 15 to 20 minutes.