Quezon-Sorsogon toll road project under way
San Miguel Corp. (SMC) is set to start constructing the first segment of its 417-kilometer toll road linking Quezon to Sorsogon by the end of the month, according to the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB).
TRB Executive Director Alvin Carullo told reporters in an interview last week that the final engineering design for Segment 1 of South Luzon Expressway (SLEx) TR-5 was targeted to be approved soon so the notice to proceed would be issued after.
This portion runs for 59.6 km from Lucena to Gumaca, Quezon.
In total, SLEx TR-5 has eight segments passing through Quezon, Camarines Sur, Albay and Sorsogon.
Along with this, SMC will also begin building this quarter the Northern Access Link Expressway (NALEx) and Southern Access Link Expressway (SALEx).
The P148.30-billion NALEx, which has two phases, is the first component of the Greater Capital Region Integrated Expressways Network. 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.
Right-of-way
The P152.39-billion SALEx, meanwhile, is an elevated expressway comprising the Shoreline Expressway and Metro Manila Skyway.
In January, the Ramon Ang-led company and the government inked the right-of-way agreement for the Southeast Metro Manila Expressway project, which is projected to be completed in three years.
The 32.7-km 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 conglomerate broke ground for the 76.8-km Pangasinan Link Expressway (PLEx) last year.
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.
Meanwhile, the construction of the P23.36-billion Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEx) extension is 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.
SMC’s extensive toll road portfolio also includes Skyway Stages 1, 2 and 3, Southern Tagalog Arterial Road, Naia Expressway and Alabang South Skyway Extension.
