Wednesday, January 10, 2018

CONSTRUCTION OF SOUTH EAST METRO MANILA EXPRESSWAY PROJECT TO START IN APRIL 2018

Traveling from Quezon City to Taguig in just 35 minutes will soon become a reality with the construction of the Southeast Metro Manila Expressway (SEMME) finally underway.

Earlier today, the Department of Transportation - Toll Regulatory Board (DOTr-TRB), in partnership with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), led the groundbreaking and time capsule laying for the first phase of the SEMME or the C-6 Expressway Project. Construction is targeted to start in April 2018, however, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade instructed concessionaire San Miguel Corp. to start the construction sooner.

“We hope to start construction in April 2018, but Secretary Tugade wants us to start earlier. What we can say is that we will do our best to make this possible at the soonest possible time,” SMC Engineer Norberto Conti said during the briefing of the SEMME project.

The transport chief regarded the C-6 Expressway project as a project that was made possible with the full cooperation and support of concerned national and local government agencies and the private sector.

“Ngayon, nagpupulong tayo para maisakatuparan ang pangarap ng taumbayan na mapasimulan itong C-6 expressway project. Ang mensahe natin ngayong umaga — nagawa ang proyektong ito dahil united at buo ang gabinete ng Pangulo,” Tugade said.

The SEMME project is a 34.024-kilometer, six-lane, combined elevated and at-grade expressway with two directional traffic flow. It will start in the south with a connection to the existing Skyway Stage 1 in FTI, Taguig City, and would terminate in Batasan Complex in Quezon City. It will eventually connect to the North Luzon Expressway via Balagtas.

Aside from decongesting roads in Manila and Quezon City, particularly major road networks such as EDSA, C-5, Ortigas Avenue, and its extension, SEMME shall likewise provide commuters and motorists fast and direct access by South and Southeast, as well as Metro Manila inter-city travelers, to major international and domestic airports.

Once completed, travel time from Bicutan, Taguig to Batasan, Quezon City will be reduced to only 35 minutes.

Phase 1 of the project is targeted to be completed in 2020.

Department of Public Works and Highway (DPWH) Secretary Mark Villar, meanwhile, said the Build,Build,Build team “will work 24/7 to make the project possible.”

“Abangan ninyo po ang sunod-sunod na ground-breaking ceremonies this year. These are infrastructure projects that will lead to the accomplishment of the Build, Build, Build vision, soon,” Villar said. 

For her part, Taguig City Mayor Lani Cayetano lauded the efforts of the Build,Build,Build team in making the long-awaited C-6 project a reality.

“It appears our hope and aspirations are now a tangible reality. I am excited for our fellow Filipinos who will soon take advantage of this expressway project that will surely boost connectivity and mobility here in Metro Manila,” the Taguig local chief executive said. 

The groundbreaking ceremony was also attended by Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) President and CEO Vince Dizon, and Antipolo City Mayor Jun Ynares.

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