SMC poised to start construction of 2 new toll roads
San Miguel Corp. (SMC) is slated to begin construction of the Northern Access Link Expressway (NALEx) and Southern Access Link Expressway (SALEx) this first quarter, according to the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB).
TRB Executive Director Alvin Carullo, in an interview with reporters last week, said that both tollway projects were already in the final engineering design stage.
The P148.30-billion NALEx, which has two phases, is the first component of the Greater Capital Region Integrated Expressways Network. The phase 1 will provide connectivity between Metro Manila, the New Manila International Airport and Central Luzon, while phase 2 is an expansion from Pampanga to Tarlac City.
Second component
The P152.39 billion SALEx, meanwhile, is the second component of the Greater Capital Region Integrated Expressways Network. It is an elevated expressway comprising of the Shoreline Expressway and Metro Manila Skyway.
Last week, SMC and the government inked the right-of-way agreement for its Southeast Metro Manila Expressway project, which is projected to be completed in three years.
The 32.7-kilometer toll road will connect from the existing Skyway at FTI in Taguig City and provide a link to Batasan Complex in Quezon City.
Outside Metro Manila, the Ramon Ang-led conglomerate broke ground for the 76.8-km Pangasinan Link Expressway (PLEx) last year.
Extension
The first phase of the project, which costs P34.34 billion, runs for 42.67 km and is divided into three segments. These are the 6.9-km Binalonan-Manaoag portion, 11.3-km Manaoag-Calasiao junction and the 22.17-km Calasiao-Lingayen segment. A 2.39-km spur road will also be paved in Calasiao.
The second phase of PLEx, which is a demand-driven expansion, will connect the tollway to Alaminos.
The Department of Public Works and Highways, meanwhile, previously said the construction of the P23.36-billion Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEx) extension was targeted to begin by July this year.
The 59.4-km road extension project will start from TPLEx in Rosario, La Union, and will terminate at San Juan, La Union. It aims to provide additional routes linking the Ilocos Region, Central Luzon and Metro Manila.
San Miguel’s toll road portfolio also includes the South Luzon Expressway, Skyway Stages 1, 2 and 3, Southern Tagalog Arterial Road, Naia Expressway and Alabang South Skyway Extension.
