SMC to close Hillsborough Skyway off-ramp to fast-track Skyway work

San Miguel Corporation (SMC) announced that it will be closing the Hillsborough off-ramp of the elevated southbound Skyway starting next week.

SMC President and Chief Operating Officer Ramon Ang said that beginning Monday (April 19) at 6 a.m. the said portion of the Skyway Extension will be closed to traffic to fast-track the construction of the southbound portion.

The closure of Hillsborough off-ramp is expected to funnel vehicles to the steel ramp in Alabang and heavy traffic flow is expected in the area.

“Unfortunately, there is no way around it. We need to close this portion to secure the staging ground for equipment and workers and to accelerate construction and ensure the safety of our motorists. I appeal to our motorists again for their patience and understanding. We expect heavy traffic to persist for the duration of the construction, but rest assured we will do everything we can to help mitigate this, and complete the project within the timetable,” Ang said.

 Following the closure, SMC Infrastructure advises motorists to take the following alternative routes:

Class 1 vehicles from Pasay, Makati, Manila, and Quezon City bound for SLEX and farther South:

• From Skyway Elevated, keep left to Steel Ramp towards destination.

Class 1 vehicles from Pasay, Makati, Manila, and Quezon City bound for Alabang

• From Skyway –Elevated, keep right to Alabang-Zapote off-ramp.

The Skyway Extension southbound section has two lanes, and runs from the Skyway Main Toll Plaza to Soldier’s Hills in Muntinlupa, with a total distance of four kilometers. 

The announcement came after SMC opened the northbound section of the Skyway Extension to the public last weekend.

According to Ang, the company will be speeding up the construction of the southbound section as they target to finish it by third quarter of this year.

“It’s only been a number of days since we opened the northbound section (for) free to the public until further notice, and already we have seen a huge improvement in traffic flow, particularly on SLEX and the Alabang viaduct. That makes us even more determined to complete construction of the southbound section, so this project can fully serve motorists and improve traffic and connectivity to and from the south,” Ang was quoted as saying.

The soft opening of the two of three lanes of the Skyway Extension project's northbound section from Susana Heights to Sucat, Paranaque, Ang claimed, proved to be timely after it coincided with the easing of quarantine restrictions.

The SMC chief claimed that that traffic situation has improved as numerous Class 1 vehicles are utilizing the Skyway Extension. 

“We’re already seeing how convenient and much faster travel is now, and it will become even more evident when traffic volume picks up and starts to normalize. That is why we’d again like to ask for our motorists’ cooperation and understanding as we move towards completion of the southbound Skyway Extension,” Ang highlighted.

Meanwhile, Ang reiterated that use of the northbound Skyway Extension will remain free for motorists until further notice. 

Photos from San Miguel Corporation

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