The Metro Manila Skyway, officially the Metro Manila Skyway System (MMSS) or simply the Skyway, is an
elevated highway serving as the main
expressway of
Metro Manila
Metropolitan Manila ( ), commonly shortened to Metro Manila and formally the National Capital Region (NCR; ), is the capital region and largest List of metropolitan areas in the Philippines, metropolitan area of the Philippines. Located ...
, Philippines. It connects the
North
North is one of the four compass points or cardinal directions. It is the opposite of south and is perpendicular to east and west. ''North'' is a noun, adjective, or adverb indicating Direction (geometry), direction or geography.
Etymology
T ...
and
South Luzon Expressways (NLEX and SLEX) with access to
Ninoy Aquino International Airport
Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA ; ; ), also known as Manila International Airport (MIA), is the main international airport serving Metro Manila in the Philippines. Located between the cities of Pasay and Parañaque, about south of ...
via the
NAIA Expressway
The Ninoy Aquino International Airport Expressway (NAIAX), signed as E6 of the Philippine expressway network, is a elevated highway in Metro Manila, Philippines. Opened in September 2016, it is the first airport expressway in the country. Th ...
(NAIAX). It is the first fully
grade-separated
In civil engineering (more specifically highway engineering), grade separation is a method of aligning a junction of two or more surface transport axes at different heights ( grades) so that they will not disrupt the traffic flow on other tr ...
highway in the Philippines and one of the longest elevated highways in the world, with a total length of approximately .
The expressway runs above major existing highways in Metro Manila and the
San Juan River. It passes through the highly urbanized areas of
Caloocan
Caloocan, officially the City of Caloocan (; ), is a highly urbanized city in Metro Manila, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 1,661,584 people making it the fourth-most populous city in the Philippines.
Caloo ...
,
Malabon
Malabon, officially the City of Malabon (), is a highly urbanized city in the National Capital Region of the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 380,522 people. Located just north of the city of Manila, Malabon is ...
,
Quezon City
Quezon City (, ; ), also known as the City of Quezon and Q.C. (read and pronounced in Filipino language, Filipino as Kyusi), is the richest and List of cities in the Philippines, most populous city in the Philippines. According to the 2020 c ...
,
San Juan San Juan, Spanish for Saint John (disambiguation), Saint John, most commonly refers to:
* San Juan, Puerto Rico
* San Juan, Argentina
* San Juan, Metro Manila, a highly urbanized city in the Philippines
San Juan may also refer to:
Places Arge ...
,
Mandaluyong
Mandaluyong ( ; ), officially the City of Mandaluyong (, ), is a Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, highly-urbanized city in the Metro Manila, National Capital Region of the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a popula ...
,
Manila
Manila, officially the City of Manila, is the Capital of the Philippines, capital and second-most populous city of the Philippines after Quezon City, with a population of 1,846,513 people in 2020. Located on the eastern shore of Manila Bay on ...
,
Makati
Makati ( ; ), officially the City of Makati (), is a highly urbanized city in the National Capital Region of the Philippines, known for being one of the leading financial centers in the country. As of 2013, the city has the highest concent ...
,
Pasay
Pasay, officially the City of Pasay (; ), is a Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, highly urbanized city in the Metro Manila, National Capital Region of the Philippines. According to the 2020 Philippine census, 2020 census, it has a ...
,
Taguig
Taguig (), officially the City of Taguig (), is the List of cities in the Philippines, fifth-most populous city in the Philippines situated on the eastern shores of Metro Manila, the national capital region. It is a center for culture, finance ...
,
Parañaque
Parañaque, officially the City of Parañaque (, ), is a Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, highly urbanized city in the Metro Manila, National Capital Region of the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of ...
, and
Muntinlupa
Muntinlupa (), officially the City of Muntinlupa (), is a Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, highly urbanized city in the Metro Manila, National Capital Region of the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population o ...
, easing congestion on other major thoroughfares. The Skyway is accessible to Class 1 vehicles (i.e. cars, vans, motorcycles and above, pick-up trucks, and SUVs), Class 2 vehicles, and
public utility vehicles (PUVs).
Previously, Class 2 vehicles and PUVs were banned due to the construction of the SLEX Elevated Extension Project in Muntinlupa.
Route
The Skyway connects the North and South Luzon Expressways. It runs above several major roads in Metro Manila, with strategically located entry and exit ramps. The expressway is divided into four stages, from north to south:
* Stage 3: Balintawak (NLEX) exit in
Caloocan
Caloocan, officially the City of Caloocan (; ), is a highly urbanized city in Metro Manila, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 1,661,584 people making it the fourth-most populous city in the Philippines.
Caloo ...
to
Buendia exit in
Makati
Makati ( ; ), officially the City of Makati (), is a highly urbanized city in the National Capital Region of the Philippines, known for being one of the leading financial centers in the country. As of 2013, the city has the highest concent ...
* Stage 1: Buendia exit to near Bicutan exit in
Parañaque
Parañaque, officially the City of Parañaque (, ), is a Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, highly urbanized city in the Metro Manila, National Capital Region of the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of ...
* Stage 2: Bicutan to South Station (Alabang-Zapote) Exit in
Alabang
Alabang () is a barangay in Muntinlupa, Philippines. At one time, the area was a farming district and has since grown from a village to a major commercial center, including Filinvest City, Madrigal Business Park, and a transportation hub. It ...
,
Muntinlupa
Muntinlupa (), officially the City of Muntinlupa (), is a Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, highly urbanized city in the Metro Manila, National Capital Region of the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population o ...
* South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) Elevated Extension:
(formerly known as the Skyway Extension and also known as Alabang South Skyway Extension) Skyway Main Line toll plaza to the South Luzon Expressway, both in Muntinlupa
Stages 1 and 2 are collectively known as the South Metro Manila Skyway Project.
From the North Luzon Expressway, the Skyway begins in Libis Baesa,
Caloocan
Caloocan, officially the City of Caloocan (; ), is a highly urbanized city in Metro Manila, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 1,661,584 people making it the fourth-most populous city in the Philippines.
Caloo ...
, about south of the Balintawak toll plaza.
A possible connection to a future toll road to
New Manila International Airport
New Manila International Airport (), also known as Bulacan International Airport (), is an international airport under construction on the coastal areas of Bulakan, Bulacan, Bulakan, Bulacan, north of Manila, the capital of the Philippines. T ...
in
Bulacan
Bulacan, officially the Province of Bulacan (; ; ; ), is a Provinces of the Philippines, province in the Philippines located in the Central Luzon Regions of the Philippines, region. Its capital is the city of Malolos. Bulacan was established on ...
is at that exit.
It enters
Quezon City
Quezon City (, ; ), also known as the City of Quezon and Q.C. (read and pronounced in Filipino language, Filipino as Kyusi), is the richest and List of cities in the Philippines, most populous city in the Philippines. According to the 2020 c ...
and after rising above the
Balintawak Interchange (where it crosses
EDSA
Epifanio de los Santos Avenue, commonly referred to by its acronym EDSA (), is a major Ring road, circumferential road around Manila, the capital city of the Philippines. It passes through 6 of Metro Manila's 17 local government units or citi ...
), it turns east towards
Circumferential Road 3 (C-3), particularly Sgt. Rivera and
G. Araneta Avenues.
The expressway runs south above Gregorio Araneta Avenue until it reaches the
San Juan River. The Skyway follows the river to its
mouth
A mouth also referred to as the oral is the body orifice through which many animals ingest food and animal communication#Auditory, vocalize. The body cavity immediately behind the mouth opening, known as the oral cavity (or in Latin), is also t ...
at the
Pasig River
The Pasig River (; ) is a water body in the Philippines that connects Laguna de Bay to Manila Bay. Stretching for , it bisects the Philippine capital of Manila and Metro Manila, its surrounding urban area into northern and southern halves. Its m ...
in
Manila
Manila, officially the City of Manila, is the Capital of the Philippines, capital and second-most populous city of the Philippines after Quezon City, with a population of 1,846,513 people in 2020. Located on the eastern shore of Manila Bay on ...
before turning towards the
San Miguel Yamamura packaging plant (owned by Skyway concessionaire
San Miguel Corporation
San Miguel Corporation (), abbreviated as SMC, is a Philippine multinational conglomerate with headquarters in Mandaluyong, Metro Manila. The company is one of the largest and most diversified conglomerates in the Philippines. Originally fo ...
) in
Pandacan
Pandacan is a district in Manila, Philippines, which is known in recent history as the former site of the Pandacan oil depot, Pandacan Oil Depot which supplied the majority of oil exports in the country.
Etymology
Pandacan is a corrupted term ...
. There, it will meet the elevated connecting road to the
NLEX Connector in Santa Mesa that will branch off parallel to the
Philippine National Railways (PNR) tracks.
The main expressway turns east onto Tomas Claudio Street (Paco–Santa Mesa Road) and
Nagtahan Link Bridge towards
Quirino Avenue (
C-2). It then turns towards
Osmeña Highway and enters
Makati
Makati ( ; ), officially the City of Makati (), is a highly urbanized city in the National Capital Region of the Philippines, known for being one of the leading financial centers in the country. As of 2013, the city has the highest concent ...
,
where the Buendia exit is located.
The expressway rises at the boundary of Osmeña Highway and
South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) known as
Magallanes Interchange and returns to its original level after crossing the said interchange. After its interchange with NAIAX, it descends to ground level because of height restrictions on structures near
Ninoy Aquino International Airport
Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA ; ; ), also known as Manila International Airport (MIA), is the main international airport serving Metro Manila in the Philippines. Located between the cities of Pasay and Parañaque, about south of ...
and parallels SLEX and the PNR tracks at the
Pasay
Pasay, officially the City of Pasay (; ), is a Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, highly urbanized city in the Metro Manila, National Capital Region of the Philippines. According to the 2020 Philippine census, 2020 census, it has a ...
–
Taguig
Taguig (), officially the City of Taguig (), is the List of cities in the Philippines, fifth-most populous city in the Philippines situated on the eastern shores of Metro Manila, the national capital region. It is a center for culture, finance ...
boundary. The Skyway again rises near the
C-5 Exit and
Arca South, entering
Parañaque
Parañaque, officially the City of Parañaque (, ), is a Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, highly urbanized city in the Metro Manila, National Capital Region of the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of ...
and returning above SLEX. At the Sucat Exit, the Skyway rises above the east end of
Dr. A. Santos Avenue and descends as it approaches the main toll plaza in
Cupang,
Muntinlupa
Muntinlupa (), officially the City of Muntinlupa (), is a Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, highly urbanized city in the Metro Manila, National Capital Region of the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population o ...
. After the toll plaza, it meets the SLEX Elevated Extension which connects it to SLEX past the Alabang Viaduct, narrows to three lanes, and curves west before joining
Alabang–Zapote Road
Alabang–Zapote Road is a four-lane national road which travels east–west through the southern limits of Metro Manila, Philippines. It runs parallel to Dr. Santos Avenue in the north and is named after the two barangays it links: Alabang, Mu ...
near South Station in
Filinvest City,
Alabang
Alabang () is a barangay in Muntinlupa, Philippines. At one time, the area was a farming district and has since grown from a village to a major commercial center, including Filinvest City, Madrigal Business Park, and a transportation hub. It ...
. The extension runs parallel to SLEX along the shoulder of the Alabang Viaduct and
Manila South Road, crossing the Alabang and Filinvest exits and descending to merge with SLEX near Pleasant Village and Soldiers Hills.
The Metro Manila Skyway has various lane configurations. The Skyway Stage 1 and 2 were originally designed in a symmetric 3x3 lane configuration (3 lanes per direction), which was changed in 2020 to an asymmetric 4x3 lane configuration, with one additional lane in specific parts of the expressway. These segments are also subject to variable maximum
speed limits
Speed limits on road traffic, as used in most countries, set the legal maximum speed at which vehicles may travel on a given stretch of road. Speed limits are generally indicated on a traffic sign reflecting the maximum permitted speed, express ...
, at and .
History
Development and planning
In 1992, the government proposed the idea of building an elevated expressway from
Quirino Avenue in Manila to
Alabang
Alabang () is a barangay in Muntinlupa, Philippines. At one time, the area was a farming district and has since grown from a village to a major commercial center, including Filinvest City, Madrigal Business Park, and a transportation hub. It ...
, Muntinlupa, spanning . This project would have been a
build–operate–transfer
Build–operate–transfer (BOT) or build–own–operate–transfer (BOOT) is a form of project delivery method, usually for large-scale infrastructure projects, wherein a private entity receives a concession (contract), concession from the public ...
(BOT) scheme, and at the time of its development,
Parañaque
Parañaque, officially the City of Parañaque (, ), is a Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, highly urbanized city in the Metro Manila, National Capital Region of the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of ...
Representative Roilo Golez won the support of many congressmen to make a proposal to relieve congestion on the existing South Luzon Expressway with a segment between Magallanes and Alabang. In December 1992,
House Speaker Jose de Venecia Jr. sought to build second-storey highways in Metro Manila to ease traffic congestion. At the same time, President
Fidel V. Ramos
Fidel Valdez Ramos (; March 18, 1928 – July 31, 2022), popularly known as FVR, was a Filipino general and politician who served as the 12th president of the Philippines from 1992 to 1998. He was the only career military officer to reached ...
asked the House Speaker and
House Public Works Committee Chairman, Rep. Victor Ortega, to pass the solidated five-year Public Works Act before February 1993 to include the proposal of elevated highways in the region.
In 1993, the
Japan International Cooperation Agency
The Japan International Cooperation Agency (), also known as JICA'','' is a governmental agency that delivers the bulk of Official Development Assistance (ODA) for the government of Japan. It is chartered with assisting economic and social gr ...
(JICA) conducted a study on the proposed urban expressway system in Metro Manila. The master plan for the planned network was meant to have of expressways, including a route on the
Radial Road 3 (R-3) alignment from Quirino Avenue to Alabang, with the total length of about . It also included routes on the Quirino Avenue,
San Juan River and
Circumferential Road 3 (C-3) alignments as the proposed Inner Circumferential Expressway from
Adriatico Street
Adriatico Street is a north–south road connecting the Ermita, Manila, Ermita and Malate, Manila, Malate districts in Manila, Philippines. Its northern terminus is at Padre Faura Street in Ermita, carrying southbound traffic all the way to Quiri ...
in
Malate, Manila
Malate is a district of Manila, Philippines. Together with the district of Ermita, Manila, Ermita, it serves as Manila's center for commerce and tourism.
Etymology
The name ''Malate'' is derived from a corruption of the Tagalog language, Tagal ...
to
Radial Road 10 (R-10) in
Navotas
Navotas, officially the City of Navotas (), is a Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, highly urbanized city in the Metro Manila, National Capital Region of the Philippines. According to the 2020 Philippine census, 2020 census, it ha ...
, with a length of and on the
Radial Road 9 (R-9) alignment from C-3 in Quezon City to
North Luzon Expressway in
Caloocan
Caloocan, officially the City of Caloocan (; ), is a highly urbanized city in Metro Manila, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 1,661,584 people making it the fourth-most populous city in the Philippines.
Caloo ...
, with a length of . In the same year, Metro Manila Skyway was launched.
The agreement was supplemented on February 14, 1994, with a related undertaking by Citra Lamtoro Gung Persada (CITRA). CITRA was to provide a preliminary feasibility study on the Metro Manila Skyways (MMS) project, a system of elevated roadway networks passing through the heart of the Metropolitan Manila area. To accelerate the actual implementation of both the Metro Manila Expressway (MME, also known as the
C-6 Road and later known as the
Southeast Metro Manila Expressway
The Southeast Metro Manila Expressway (SEMME), also known as Skyway (Metro Manila), Skyway Stage 4, C-6 Expressway and formerly Metro Manila Expressway, is a proposed tolled expressway running across eastern Metro Manila and western Rizal (prov ...
) and the MMS projects, PNCC and CITRA entered into a second agreement. Through that agreement, CITRA committed to finance and undertake the preparation, updating, and revalidation of previous studies on the construction, operation, and maintenance of the projects.
CITRA, a
Jakarta
Jakarta (; , Betawi language, Betawi: ''Jakartè''), officially the Special Capital Region of Jakarta (; ''DKI Jakarta'') and formerly known as Batavia, Dutch East Indies, Batavia until 1949, is the capital and largest city of Indonesia and ...
-based investor, owned by
Siti Hardiyanti Rukmana (a daughter of
Indonesian President Suharto
Suharto (8 June 1921 – 27 January 2008) was an Indonesian Officer (armed forces), military officer and politician, and dictator, who was the second and longest serving president of Indonesia, serving from 1967 to 1998. His 32 years rule, cha ...
), signed a Supplemental Toll Operation Agreement (STOA) in November 1995 with the
Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) as a grantor and the
Philippine National Construction Corporation (PNCC) as operator. Negotiations began on October 31, 1994, with a group composed of representatives from the Board of Investments (BOI), the
Department of Finance (DOF),
AIA Capital as a financial adviser, the
Department of Public Works and Highways
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH; ) is the executive department of the Philippine government responsible for serving as the country's engineering and construction arm. It is tasked with implementing the government's policy to ...
(DPWH), the TRB, the PNCC, and CITRA. Under the STOA, Citra Metro Manila Tollways Corporation (CMMTC) was mandated to finance, design, and construct Stage 1 of the South Metro Manila Tollway Project (an elevated expressway from Bicutan to Buendia) and rehabilitate the at-grade portion of the South Metro Manila Tollway project from Magallanes to Alabang. The STOA was approved by President Ramos in April 1996.
Stage 1
Stage 1 involved the rehabilitation of the at-grade portion of South Luzon Expressway from
Magallanes to Alabang and the construction of a six-lane, elevated expressway above it from
Buendia to Bicutan. Construction of Stage 1 began on November 27, 1995, with actual work beginning in the following year. The first pier head rotation was launched by President Ramos in Easter 1996. The girder launching technology was used during the construction. Special
girder launchers were used to lift the girders, minimizing the traffic disruption along the
South Luzon Expressway. The contact was awarded to a joint venture of Hutama Karya and Taiwanese RSEA.
The Magallanes–Bicutan segment was inaugurated by President
Joseph Estrada
Joseph Ejercito Estrada (; born Jose Marcelo Ejercito; April 19, 1937), also known by the nickname Erap, is a Filipino politician and former actor, who served as the 13th president of the Philippines from 1998 until his resignation in 2001. ...
on December 10, 1998,
followed by the Buendia–Magallanes segment. The Magallanes and Bicutan exits, as well as Skyway Toll Plazas A and B, were the first to be completed, followed by the Buendia and Makati (now Amorsolo) exits. The Don Bosco exit started its construction on November 17, 2001, and opened on January 3, 2002, and the construction of
NAIA Interchange followed, lasting from March 17, 2004, to its completion on May 30, 2009.
CMMTC spent US$32.7 million () on the portion of Stage 1.
Stage 2
On April 2, 2009, CITRA announced construction of the second stage; by June of that year, new pillars were constructed. The stage was half done by May 2010,
rotating the highest pierhead in the Sucat area. On December 15, 2010, the Bicutan–Sucat portion of Stage 2 opened to the public.
Motorists initially used this portion free of charge for one week, when Skyway tolls were reduced to its 2007 rates. On April 6, 2011, the Hillsborough ramps, Skyway Main Line toll plaza, and South Station exit were opened to the public toll-free until April 25.
Stage 2 extended the toll road by about , from Bicutan to Alabang.
Stage 3
The original plan for the third stage was conceptually in the 1990s. The route would have been a route between Quirino Avenue and Sgt. Rivera, known as the Central Metro Manila Skyway and Stage 2 for its two routes would have run from Buendia (Gil Puyat) to Quirino Avenue for , as the extension of the South Metro Manila Skyway, then again from Sgt. Rivera to NLEX for , known as the North Metro Manila Skyway. All of the proposals were mentioned in the sources and in the 1999 Metro Manila Urban Transportation Integration Study (MMUTIS).
In 2007, Chinese Premier
Wen Jiabao
Wen Jiabao ( zh, s=温家宝, p=Wēn Jiābǎo; born 15 September 1942) is a Chinese retired politician who served as the 6th premier of China from 2003 to 2013. In his capacity as head of government, Wen was regarded as the leading figure behin ...
expressed China's interest, particularly the government-owned
China Road and Bridge Corporation
China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC), a subsidiary of China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), is a Chinese state-owned construction and engineering firm that focuses on global infrastructure projects such as highways, skyways, rai ...
, in completing the Skyway project, which was supposed to link Alabang to Makati and then up to Balintawak,
Quezon City
Quezon City (, ; ), also known as the City of Quezon and Q.C. (read and pronounced in Filipino language, Filipino as Kyusi), is the richest and List of cities in the Philippines, most populous city in the Philippines. According to the 2020 c ...
. Additionally, there are plans to incorporate the port linkage (now absorbed by the new section
NLEX Harbor Link) that connects
Manila North Harbor and
Radial Road 10.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) received an unsolicited proposal to construct a Skyway extension from San Miguel Corporation-backed Citra Metro Manila Tollways Corporation (CMMTC), which would run from Buendia (Gil Puyat), Makati to Balintawak, Quezon City. The DPWH subjected the proposal to a
Swiss challenge, which requires a government agency that has received an unsolicited bid for a project to publish the bid and invite third parties to match (or exceed) it. The project was approved by President
Benigno Aquino III
Benigno Simeon Aquino III (; born Benigno Simeon Cojuangco Aquino III; February 8, 1960 – June 24, 2021), also known as Noynoy Aquino and colloquially as PNoy, was a Filipino politician who served as the 15th president of the Philippines ...
in September 2013.
The groundbreaking ceremony of Skyway Stage 3 was held on January 22, 2014, and construction began on February 17. It was expected to be completed in 2017, but the project experienced construction delays. Work stoppages due to the
COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...
further delayed the project's full opening until late 2020.
During its construction of Stage 3, several drainage lines and electric poles were relocated to give space for the foundations of its expressway. The power transmission line of
National Grid Corporation of the Philippines (NGCP), were rerouted. Most notably, the
Sucat-Paco-Araneta-Balintawak Transmission Line relocates Araneta-Balintawak segment and Sucat-Paco segment with new steel poles while the old ones were retired. The
San Juan River Bridge was also demolished in 2018 for Stage 3 works and was rebuilt by
San Miguel Corporation
San Miguel Corporation (), abbreviated as SMC, is a Philippine multinational conglomerate with headquarters in Mandaluyong, Metro Manila. The company is one of the largest and most diversified conglomerates in the Philippines. Originally fo ...
(SMC) until 2020.
Tomas Claudio Street in Manila was also closed between 2019 and 2022 as part of the construction.
Originally planned as divided into four segments,
the original route was supposed to cross the
Pasig River
The Pasig River (; ) is a water body in the Philippines that connects Laguna de Bay to Manila Bay. Stretching for , it bisects the Philippine capital of Manila and Metro Manila, its surrounding urban area into northern and southern halves. Its m ...
, meet the NLEX–SLEX Connector Road (the present-day
NLEX Connector) near the
PUP campus, and pass through
Santa Mesa district and the city of
San Juan San Juan, Spanish for Saint John (disambiguation), Saint John, most commonly refers to:
* San Juan, Puerto Rico
* San Juan, Argentina
* San Juan, Metro Manila, a highly urbanized city in the Philippines
San Juan may also refer to:
Places Arge ...
. Due to right of way issues, however, it could not traverse through Santa Mesa and instead made it turn right from
Tomas Claudio Street through the
San Miguel Yamamura Packaging Corporation plastic plant in Pandacan towards the
San Juan River and to G. Araneta Avenue. A second modification added a fifth segment at the north end which would cross the
Balintawak Interchange and connect to the North Luzon Expressway's Balintawak toll plaza in
Caloocan
Caloocan, officially the City of Caloocan (; ), is a highly urbanized city in Metro Manila, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 1,661,584 people making it the fourth-most populous city in the Philippines.
Caloo ...
, extending Stage 3 to .
The new segment raised the possibility of further northward expansion, eventually realized as the NALEX (Northern Access Link Expressway).
Prior to the
COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic (also known as the coronavirus pandemic and COVID pandemic), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), began with an disease outbreak, outbreak of COVID-19 in Wuhan, China, in December ...
, the Stage 3 project was to have six lanes per direction,
and toll collection was supposed to be located at every exit. The animation shows planned Toll Plazas A and B were to be located in
San Andres, north of the Buendia (Gil Puyat) southbound exit ramp.
However, the plans were scrapped due to changes in toll collection to contactless, as well as the widening of the expressway to seven lanes.
Two significant accidents occurred during construction. On August 18, 2019, a
coping
Coping refers to conscious or unconscious strategies used to reduce and manage unpleasant emotions. Coping strategies can be cognitions or behaviors and can be individual or social. To cope is to deal with struggles and difficulties in life. It ...
beam collapsed on vehicles on the North Luzon Expressway, delaying southbound traffic; no injuries were reported. A February 1, 2020 fire at the San Miguel Yamamura Packaging Corporation plastic plant in Pandacan caused a portion of Stage 3 to collapse, creating a long delay of the project. Fire damage required reconstruction of pierheads and replacement of the burnt girders, delaying the 2020 opening of the segment from April to November. Also, the planned opening was delayed amidst lockdowns due to COVID-19.
The northbound Buendia–Quirino portion opened on July 20, 2018.
The Buendia–Plaza Dilao segment was partially opened toll-free on July 22, 2019,
and the northbound exit ramp to Quirino Avenue opened on December 23 of that year.
On October 13, 2020, San Miguel Corporation announced the final concrete pouring and completion of Skyway Stage 3. Due to rain, however, the asphalt overlay was delayed. On December 29, the remaining segment of Stage 3 up to NLEX partially opened.
It was inaugurated on January 14, 2021 by former President
Rodrigo Duterte
Rodrigo Roa Duterte (, ; born March 28, 1945) is a Filipino lawyer and politician who served as the 16th president of the Philippines from 2016 to 2022. He is the first Philippine president from Mindanao, and is the oldest person to assum ...
, and became fully operational the following day, toll-free until July 12.
While work on the expressway was being completed, Stage 3 was closed daily from 10:00 pm to 5:00 am (
PST) daily.
The segment opened around the clock in August 2021. Some toll plazas and entrance and exit ramps were closed from April 5–8 and May 24–28 for system tests by the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB).
Work on the elevated link connecting the Skyway with the NLEX Connector began on January 28, 2021, after delays due to right of way issues.
Other entry and exit ramps were later opened during the next few months.
Toll collection began on July 12, 2021, after delays in toll approval and an operating permit.
On December 28, 2024, the Maria Clara northbound off-ramp in Quezon City was opened.
In December 2022, it was reported that
Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC) would take over the spur of Stage 3. They sent a letter to the DPWH about requesting to build the interconnection structure. MPTC also wants to build the connector road itself while looking for an alternative alignment that can cross the Pasig River.
SLEX Elevated Extension
First proposed by SMC as the Skyway Extension Project in November 2017, the extension project planned to expand the two-lane section from the Skyway Main Line toll plaza to Alabang–Zapote Road to six lanes (three in each direction) and build an extension from South Station in Alabang to the South Luzon Expressway's Susana Heights exit in
Muntinlupa
Muntinlupa (), officially the City of Muntinlupa (), is a Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, highly urbanized city in the Metro Manila, National Capital Region of the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population o ...
. The SLEX Elevated Extension is the first phase of the corporation's three-year expansion project of all toll roads in southern Metro Manila to ease traffic congestion. In addition to ramps connecting the South Luzon Expressway section near Soldiers Hills and the Skyway main toll plaza, it will include construction of a northbound ramp connecting the Alabang viaduct to the South Station toll plaza and widening of the South Station toll plaza.
Construction of the extension began in August 2019. To facilitate the extension's construction, the Hillsborough ramps were closed and demolished; the northbound on-ramp was closed in 2020, followed by the southbound off-ramp on April 19, 2021. The extension was originally expected to be completed by December 2020. However, the COVID-19 pandemic and construction delays postponed the extension opening until 2021. A November 21, 2020 construction accident on the East Service Road in Barangay
Cupang, Muntinlupa caused delays. The northbound section of the project was finished on March 24, 2021, and was soft-opened (toll-free until further notice) on April 11.
The southbound section then opened on December 10.
The extension was inaugurated on February 15, 2022, as the
South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) Elevated Extension Project.
Operations and maintenance
The Skyway is operated and maintained by the Skyway Operations and Maintenance Corporation (SOMCO). SOMCO took over the expressway's operations and maintenance from former operator PNCC Skyway Corporation in January 2008 and was declared to comply with the July 2007 Amended Supplemental Toll Operators Agreement (A-STOA) between the PNCC, Citra Metro Manila Tollways Corporation and the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB), which awarded management of the road to Citra. The Skyway uses the Vendeka toll-collection system. SOMCO controls the Skyway three main operational functions: traffic safety and management, maintenance, and toll collection.
The expressway's
concessionaire varies by stage. The concessionaire of Stages 1 and 2 (known as the South Metro Manila Skyway Project), including the at-grade portion of the South Luzon Expressway from Magallanes to Alabang, and SLEX Elevated Extension is SMC Skyway Corporation (formerly Citra Metro Manila Tollways Corporation, or CMMTC).
The concessionaire of Stage 3 is SMC Skyway Stage 3 Corporation (formerly Citra Central Expressway Corporation), a subsidiary of Stage 3 Connector Tollways Holding Corporation (S3CTH).
The aforementioned companies are subsidiaries of
San Miguel Corporation
San Miguel Corporation (), abbreviated as SMC, is a Philippine multinational conglomerate with headquarters in Mandaluyong, Metro Manila. The company is one of the largest and most diversified conglomerates in the Philippines. Originally fo ...
through SMC Infrastructure.
Future
Skyway Stage 4
The Southeast Metro Manila Expressway (SEMME), also known as Skyway Stage 4, is a under-construction expressway from Skyway Stage 2 near
Arca South in Taguig to
Batasan Road (near
Batasang Pambansa Complex) in Quezon City. The expressway is planned to extend to
Bulacan
Bulacan, officially the Province of Bulacan (; ; ; ), is a Provinces of the Philippines, province in the Philippines located in the Central Luzon Regions of the Philippines, region. Its capital is the city of Malolos. Bulacan was established on ...
. The project aims to provide an alternate route to EDSA, C-5, and other major roads for motorists coming from
Rizal and the
Calabarzon area to ease traffic congestion.
The project's groundbreaking ceremony was held on January 8, 2018,
and it was expected to be completed by 2022.
As of 2024, however, the project was delayed due to
right of way
A right of way (also right-of-way) is a specific route that people, animals, vehicles, watercraft, or utility lines travel, or the legal status that gives them the right to do so. Rights-of-way in the physical sense include controlled-access h ...
issues.
New Manila International Airport link

As a part of San Miguel Corporation's
New Manila International Airport
New Manila International Airport (), also known as Bulacan International Airport (), is an international airport under construction on the coastal areas of Bulakan, Bulacan, Bulakan, Bulacan, north of Manila, the capital of the Philippines. T ...
(NMIA) project, the concessionaire proposed linking the airport to NLEX and SLEX via Skyway Stage 3.
The section of NLEX between its Balintawak toll plaza and Skyway's Balintawak on- and off-ramps mostly in
Caloocan
Caloocan, officially the City of Caloocan (; ), is a highly urbanized city in Metro Manila, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 1,661,584 people making it the fourth-most populous city in the Philippines.
Caloo ...
has pillars to connect the Skyway northward to a future toll road which will lead to the new airport in
Bulakan, Bulacan
Bulakan, officially the Municipality of Bulakan (), is a municipality in the province of Bulacan, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 81,232 people.
Bulakan, which is one of the oldest towns in the Philippines ...
. The project runs above a toll road operated by
NLEX Corporation, another concessionaire.
The toll road project, later known as the Northern Access Link Expressway (NALEX), was approved by the
Toll Regulatory Board in June 2022. It would be long from Skyway Stage 3 to a roundabout in
Meycauayan, near the airport. Another stretch would be built beyond the NMIA roundabout, ending at the southern end of the
Tarlac–Pangasinan–La Union Expressway
The Tarlac–Pangasinan–La Union Expressway (TPLEX), signed as E1 of the Philippine expressway network and R-8 of the List of roads in Metro Manila, Metro Manila arterial road network, is a Controlled-access highway, controlled-access toll expr ...
in
Tarlac City
Tarlac City, officially the City of Tarlac (; ; ; ), is a component city and capital of the Provinces of the Philippines, province of Tarlac, Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population of 385,398 people, making it the most p ...
. When completed, NALEX would be long. The NALEX project costs and the first segment is targeted to be completed by 2026.
Southern Access Link Expressway
The Southern Access Link Expressway (SALEX) is a proposed series of elevated expressways through the western part of Metro Manila. It is part of Component 2 of the Greater Capital Region Integrated Expressways Network. SALEX is a proposed 40.65-km elevated expressway network comprising the Shoreline Expressway and three (3) Metro Manila Skyway Stage (MMSS3) Extensions, namely: C3-R10 Extension, Quirino Extension, and Buendia (Gil Puyat) Extension. SALEX will improve motorists’ access to the NMIA as well as support its surrounding economies.
Bus rapid transit
According to San Miguel Corporation president and COO
Ramon Ang, the company began considering
bus rapid transit on the Skyway in 2017. The proposed system, announced on April 26, 2021, may have high-capacity point-to-point (P2P) buses, and will be sent to the
Department of Transportation when finalized. It aims to make commutes safer and more convenient, maximizing the benefits of the elevated expressway in diverting vehicles from other roads. However, no updates were made.
Tolls

The expressway combines
open-road,
closed-road, and
barrier toll systems. Toll collection is divided between the South Metro Manila Skyway Project and Skyway Stage 3 but are altogether part of the Seamless Southern Tollways program of
San Miguel Corporation
San Miguel Corporation (), abbreviated as SMC, is a Philippine multinational conglomerate with headquarters in Mandaluyong, Metro Manila. The company is one of the largest and most diversified conglomerates in the Philippines. Originally fo ...
.
The South Metro Manila Skyway toll system is integrated with the South Luzon (SLEX) and
Muntinlupa–Cavite Expressways (MCX).
Northbound tolls are collected upon entry on Skyway or NAIAX. Entering motorists from SLEX pay an additional toll at the Main Line toll plaza in
Muntinlupa
Muntinlupa (), officially the City of Muntinlupa (), is a Cities of the Philippines#Legal classification, highly urbanized city in the Metro Manila, National Capital Region of the Philippines. According to the 2020 census, it has a population o ...
. Tolls are not charged at northbound exits from Magallanes to Buendia, but additional toll fees apply upon exit from NAIAX or Skyway Stage 3.
Southbound tolls are collected upon exit from Skyway, NAIAX, SLEX, MCX, or
STAR Tollway.
No tickets are issued at southbound entrances.
On the other hand, Stage 3 tolls are based on distance and vehicle class. Northbound tolls are collected at either Del Monte toll plaza for exits at Sgt. Rivera, A. Bonifacio, or Balintawak (NLEX), or upon exit elsewhere. Southbound tolls are collected at either Del Monte for exits at Quezon Avenue or G. Araneta, or upon exit elsewhere. Exit toll collection for NLEX Connector (via elevated spur road in Manila) is yet to be determined.
The Skyway uses the RFID-based Autosweep
electronic toll collection
Electronic toll collection (ETC) is a wireless system to automatically collect the usage fee or Road pricing, toll charged to vehicles using toll roads, HOV lanes, toll bridges, and toll tunnels. It is a faster alternative which is replacing Tol ...
(ETC) system used on the expressways by San Miguel Tollways. Previously, the transponder-based E-Pass was used. ETC lanes are usually on the left lane of a toll plaza, but mixed lanes also accepting cash exist. More ETC lanes were added at toll barriers as Philippine tollways shift towards cashless toll collection. RFID installation and reloading lanes are also located at selected
Skyway toll plazas. Cash is accepted only at South Skyway and some toll plazas of Stage 3.
Class 3 vehicles are currently not permitted to use the Skyway,
and trucks are banned on Stage 3 due to safety concerns.
The under-construction
NLEX Connector is expected to compensate for the restriction, which will bypass the majority of Stage 3 to connect to South Skyway.
The toll rates are as follows:
South Metro Manila Skyway
Skyway Stage 3
Exits
Skyway Stage 3–NLEX Connector link
See also
*
Metro Manila Dream Plan
Notes
References
External links
*
Metro Manila Skyway Official Website
Skyway SOMCOon
Twitter
Twitter, officially known as X since 2023, is an American microblogging and social networking service. It is one of the world's largest social media platforms and one of the most-visited websites. Users can share short text messages, image ...
*
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Toll roads in the Philippines
Roads in Metro Manila