Traffic rerouting in Alabang announced for start of Skyway Extension Project on Feb. 16

Motorists heading to Alabang will have to use alternative routes starting February 16, when work on the southbound section of the P10-billion Skyway Extension Project starts.

In a statement released Wednesday, San Miguel Corporation (SMC) said that the Skyway O&M Corporation, the Muntinlupa City Government, and the administrators of Filinvest Alabang Inc. approved the traffic rerouting scheme, which includes:

• the closure of Lane 3 of the Southbound Lane of Skyway at-grade and the northbound lane of the West Service Road from the Sucat Interchange to Alabang Viaduct; and
• the closure of the southbound Alabang exit plaza and the southbound Bunye South Station.

SMC is the parent company of SMC Infrastructure, which operates the expressway.

Among the work to be done are bored piling and column installation activities, expected to be completed in six weeks.

The closures were originally scheduled for December 2019, but were deferred due to the holiday season.

"Humihingi po kami ng paumanhin. Ito ay makakabuti sa lahat, at maso-solve po natin ang problema sa traffic sa SLEX at Alabang," said SMC president and COO Ramon Ang.

"Bigyan lang po natin ng pagkakataon ang ating mga engineers at trabahador na gawin ang kailangan para matapos po ito sa madaling panahon," he added.

New traffic schemes

Given the closure of toll plazas, SMC also announced new traffic schemes:

• Class 1 and 2 vehicles headed to Alabang or Alabang-Zapote Road, take Filinvest Exit Toll Plaza, turn right at Corporate Ave., right to Civic Drive, right again at Corporate Ave., then right to Alabang –Zapote Road towards their destination.
• Class 1, 2, and 3 vehicles bound for Alabang, Putatan, and National Road can take the Susana Exit Toll Plaza, turn right at Susana Heights Ave., and turn either left or right on the National Road to their respective destinations
• Class 1 Vehicles bound for Alabang–Zapote Road, Filinvest, or Daang Hari may choose any of the following routes:
  • Take Filinvest exit, straight to Filinvest Ave., left to Commerce Avenue and/or left Alabang - Zapote Road to destination and/or;
  • Take Filinvest exit, right to Corporate Ave., left to Commerce Ave., right to Filinvest Ave., left to Alabang–Zapote Road.

The following adjustments will also be made given the closure of the Lane 3 and portion of the northbound West Service Road:

• Class 1 Vehicles bound for Skyway NB at-grade, from Alabang-Zapote Road, take Filinvest Ave., turn left to Parkway St., then turn right to the access tunnel to the Filinvest northbound entry.
• Class 1 Vehicles bound for Skyway NB elevated, from Alabang-Zapote Road, take Filinvest Ave., turn left to Parkway St., then turn right to the access tunnel to the Filinvest northbound entry. Keep right and use the ramp before the Sucat interchange (On-ramp to Skyway Main Plaza).
• Class 1 and 2 vehicles bound for East Service Road, take a U-Turn at the Alabang Viaduct Ilalim in front of Starmall.

"We are once again appealing to motorists for their patience and understanding for the temporary inconvenience they may experience until construction activities are completed in the area," said Ang.

"The Muntinlupa City Government, FAI, and Skyway, have come together and are helping each other, to ensure we have a traffic management plan in place, as we work on a long-term solution to traffic," he added.

The Skyway Extension Project is scheduled to be completed by December this year, adding two northbound lanes and three southbound lanes.

The project will have a direct connection to Skyway 1, 2, and 3, and allow motorists from the south to head to NAIA, Makati, Manila, San Juan, Quezon City, and the NLEX without having to pass by Alabang and EDSA. — BM, GMA News