DOTr groundbreaks South East MM Expressway Project
Travel time from Taguig to Batasan Complex in Quezon City will reduce to at least half an hour once the South East Metro Manila Expressway Project (SEMME) project is completed.
This, as the Department of Transportation (DOTr), in partnership with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA), led the groundbreaking Monday of the expressway project at the C-5 Service Road in Taguig.
SEMME is a 34-kilometer expressway linking the existing Skyway Stage 1 in FTI, Taguig City to Batasan Complex in Quezon City. It will eventually connect to the North Luzon Expressway via Balagtas, Bulacan.
“When completed, travel time of motorists from Bicutan, Taguig to Batasan, Quezon City will be reduced to only 35 minutes,” the DOTr said in a statement Monday.
SEMME, which is part of the Metro Manila C-6 Expressway Project, will have six lanes for combined elevated and at-grade expressway with two directional traffic flow.
“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,” the DOTr said.
SEMME which is the first phase of the Metro Manila C-6 Expressway Project will cost around PHP45 billion and will start its construction this year. It is expected to be completed by 2020.
The project is being operated by Citra Intercity Tollways Inc. (CITI) of San Miguel Corporation (SMC) as concessionaire with its concession period lasting for 30 years from issuance of the toll operation certificate.
The C-6 expressway project will have its second phase involving a 24.28-kilometer expressway from San Mateo, Rizal to San Jose del Monte, Bulacan and third phase which entails a 22-kilometer tollway from San Jose del Monte to Meycauyan and Marilao, Bulacan.