Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar announced that the main trunk line of Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3 from Buendia, Makati City up to North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) in Balintawak, Quezon City is now open.
“We have waited long for this project and I am pleased to personally experience that we are now reaping the benefits of using the fastest alternative route between NLEX and South Luzon Expressway,” Villar said.
“We are now reaping the benefits of using the fastest alternative route between NLEX and South Luzon Expressway.”
No less than President Rodrigo Duterte led the inauguration of the 17.93-kilometer elevated expressway.
It was also attended by Senator Bong Go, Speaker Lord Allan Velasco Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, Department of Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez, Department of Transportation Secretary Art Tugade, BCDA President Vince Dizon, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, DBM Secretary Wendel Avisado, MMDA Chairman Benhur Abalos, Jr., and MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia.
“With the opening of Skyway Stage 3 bypassing the congested Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (EDSA), travel time from Buendia to Balintawak is cut from two hours to just 15 to 20 minutes,” the public works chief stressed.
The project would have been far in the future if not for the commitment of the DPWH men and women and the dedication of the project concessionaire San Miguel Corporation led by Ramon Ang and its civil works contractor.
After incurring long delays, DPWH under the leadership of Villar accelerated the Skyway’s infrastructure right-of-way acquisition by forming a road right-of-way task force that resulted in the delivery of site possession and increased overall civil works accomplishment.