South Luzon Expressway

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South Luzon Expressway
formerly South Superhighway Pres. Sergio Osmeña Highway (Paco to Alabang) Dr. Jose P. Rizal Superhighway (Alabang to Calamba)
Length:	75.8 km (47.1 mi)
Direction:	North/South
From:	President E. Quirino Ave. (C-2) in Manila
Major junctions:	Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (C-4) in Makati Maharlika Highway in Calamba City
To:	Maharlika Highway in Calamba City

The Skyway segment of the expressway

South Luzon Expressway and Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

The South Luzon Expressway (SLEx) or (SLE), also called South Superhighway (SSH), is a network of two expressways that connects Metro Manila with the provinces of the CALABARZON region in the Philippines. The first expressway is operated jointly by Philippine National Construction Corporation (PNCC) and Citra Metro Manila Tollways Corporation (CMMTC), while the second expressway is solely operated by PNCC through its South Luzon Tollways Division.Radial Road 3 is the alternate name of the SLEx.

It starts in Manila's Paco district at Pres. E. Quirino Avenue and ends in Calamba in the province of Laguna, 62 kilometers south of Manila. It is now being connected to STAR tollway so that it will end in Lipa City.Southwards, the SLEX passes through the following cities and municipalities: Manila, Makati, Pasay, Parañaque and Muntinlupa in Metro Manila, San Pedro and Biñan in Laguna, Carmona in Cavite, then Biñan (again), Santa Rosa City, Cabuyao and Calamba City in Laguna. It is now being connected to STAR Tollway therefore incresing its size by 26 km.

1 Overview
2 Portions of the SLEX
- 2.1 The Skyway
3 SLEX Redevelopment
- 3.1 Rehabilitation
4 Technical specifications
5 Tolls
6 Exits
7 See also
8 External links

[edit] Overview

The first expressway in the network, the Metro Manila Skyway system, starts at the intersection of the expressway with Buendia Avenue in Makati and connects with the second expressway in network, the South Luzon Expressway, in Alabang, Muntinlupa. The South Luzon Expressway then traverses the western part of Laguna province and ends in Calamba. The third expressway in the network, STAR Tollway, is currently not connected to the second expressway.

Over the years, the areas surrounding the South Luzon Expressway, particularly southern Metro Manila and those areas within Laguna province, have seen massive industrialization and urbanization, especially with the influx of local and foreign investment into the area and the migration of Filipinos from different parts of the Philippines. Such development caused heavy traffic to pour into the SLEx, causing massive traffic jams in parts of the expressway, especially during Mondays, Fridays and the morning and evening rush hour.

To decongest traffic at the SLEX, the Philippine Government entered a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) scheme agreement with Indonesian construction firm PT Citra for the rehabilitation of parts of the expressway and the construction of the Metro Manila Skyway (stage 1), an elevated North-South tollway that will pass over the South Luzon Expressway, some areas of Metro Manila and eventually into the North Luzon Expressway, which aims to interconnect the two expressways and to decongest traffic in many areas of Metro Manila.

[edit] Portions of the SLEX

From the northern end of the SLEX in Paco to Muntinlupa City, the expressway is officially named the President Sergio Osmeña, Sr. Highway after one of the former presidents. The section is dead straight from Bicutan to Alabang in Muntinlupa and also straight from Bicutan to its end in Paco. The SLEX is also officially designated as Radial Road 3 or R-3 in the roadway system of Metro Manila.

The Southern Luzon portion of the SLEX, from the edge of Muntinlupa to Calamba City is officially called the Dr. Jose Protacio Rizal Highway, named after the country's national hero. On June 2005, the Philippine Government renamed the SLEX Extension, the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR Tollway) to Apolinario Mabini Superhighway.

[edit] The Skyway

Due to increasing amounts of congestion on the SLEX within Metro Manila, a skyway was constructed as a direct, non-stop route from Bicutan in Parañaque to Buendia Avenue in Makati, bypassing many of the interchanges of the SLEX, such as those with the C-5 near Fort Bonifacio and EDSA. The ends of the skyway at Bicutan and Buendia are incomplete; ramps have been built to divert traffic on the sides of the freeway. Plans are currently underway to extend the skyway to the Alabang exit in Muntinlupa City.

[edit] SLEX Redevelopment

[edit] Rehabilitation

The extension works from Calamba to Santo Tomas (Toll Road 3)

The SLEX Upgrading and Rehabilitation Project already started since May 2006 by PNCC and MTD Capital, BHD of Malaysia (MTD Manila Expressway Corporation) joint venture, called South Luzon Tollway Corporation (SLTC), as the main proponents of the said project. In this project, the expressway will undergo a major rehabilitation similar to the recently - rehabilitated North Luzon Expressway and will eventually connect with its Batangas section, the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road, also known as the STAR Tollway. Phase 1 of the expressway project includes the retrofitting and widening of the old Alabang Viaduct (Toll Road 1), the rehabilitation and widening of the Alabang-Calamba segment (Toll Road 2), construction of the missing tollway link (Calamba-Santo Tomas segment) (Toll Road 3) and the integration of the Skyway, South Luzon Expressway and the STAR Expressway as a single toll road. Phase 2 involves the rehabilitation of the Santo Tomas-Lipa segment and the extension of the expressway to Batangas City. Phase 3 involves another extension from Santo Tomas to Lucena City in Quezon. After the project has completed, SLTC will takeover the management and operations of the South Luzon Expressway and STAR.

As of April 2008, the rehabilitation project is about 40% complete. It is expected that rehabilitation will be finished by March 2009. [1]

Widening of the tollway from Calamba Exit to Alabang Exit including bridges and road upgrading and improvement of the SLEX's facilities. It is currently on going since 2006. It is also adding up additional overpasses to the Skyway System to accommodate the opening of NAIA 3 and linking of the STAR Tollway to SLEX. The ground at the ending of SLEX (The circular road to Calamba via National Highway) is reconstructed and the ground is being cleared for the continuation of the SLEX to STAR Tollway.

When the rehabilitation project is complete, it is said that the expressway will have qualities similar to that of a modern Malaysian expressway. Also, the driving time from Manila to the Port of Batangas in Batangas City will be reduced from four hours to roughly one and a half hour.

[edit] Technical specifications

Name: South Luzon Expressway (Skyway to STAR)
Concession Holder: Citra Metro Manila Tollways Corporation, Philippine National Construction Corporation and STAR Infrastructure Development Corporation (South Luzon Tollways Corporation will takeover the operations and management starting in November 2008)
Operator: Skyway Operations and Maintenance Corporation, PNCC South Luzon Tollways Division and STAR Infrastructure Development Corporation (Manila Toll Expressway Systems, Incorporated will be the operator of the expressway after parent company South Luzon Tollway Corporation takeovers the operation and management from SOMCo, PNCC-SLTD and STAR-IDC)
Length: 77 km
Concession starting date: March 1977 (SLTC started its concession since August 2006)
Concession ending date: March 2007 (SLTC will end its concession in March 2038)
Highway exits: 23
Toll plazas: 2
Rest and Service Areas: 7
Minimum Height Clearance on Underpasses: 4.27m (14')

[edit] Tolls

Class	Skyway Elevated Portion (Buendia-Bicutan)	Skyway At-Grade Portion (Magallanes-Alabang)	South Luzon Expressway (Alabang-Calamba)
Class 1 (Cars, Motorcycles, SUVs, Jeepneys)	PhP 85	PhP 4.17/km	PhP 0.56/km
Class 2 (Buses, Light Trucks)	PhP 170	PhP 8.35/km	PhP 1.12/km
Class 3 (Heavy Trucks)	PhP 225	PhP 12.52/km	PhP 1.68/km

[edit] Exits

Exits are numbered by kilometer post, with Rizal Park in Manila designated as Kilometer 0. Exits start at 8 because the Paco-Magallanes segment is not part of the expressway segment. On the highway, exit numbers aren't posted until Exit 26. Also note that the exit number goes north-south, unlike US freeways and the NLEx.

Exit Number	Exit Name	Exit Location	Route Remarks
6	Buendia Flyover	Makati City	Exit is an overpass over Buendia Avenue. Staying on the main road takes motorists to Buendia Avenue, from where motorists can continue right to Makati or left to Manila. Until the Magallanes exit, this section of road provides access to numerous smaller local roads. And for southbound users, staying on the main road can provide access to the Skyway. There is no access to the skyway from the flyover.
KM 6	Skyway: Buendia Exit Ramp		This exit takes you to the Metro Manila Skyway express route which travels over the SLEX up to the Bicutan Exit. This route has fewer exits and is therefore a faster route.
7	Skyway: Makati Exit		This exit on the northbound Skyway lanes (from Calamba) takes you directly to the Makati City Centre. This exit leads onto a very short 4-lane expressway route then curves left and descends to merge onto Amorsolo Street.
7B	Pasay Rd. Intersection		This signalized intersection lays under the Makati exit and provides a connection to Makati from the main expressway.
7C	Skyway: Don Bosco Exit/Don Bosco Intersection		This exit on the northbound Skyway provides access to the Don Bosco Street intersection on the main SLEX.
8	Magallanes Exit (EDSA)		This exit on the main SLEX provides a direct connection to northbound EDSA. Besides providing a direct exit to northbound EDSA to Makati City, the Ortigas CBD, SM Megamall, Cubao, SM City North EDSA, the NLEX and Monumento. there is also an intersection at the bottom of the complex which provides access to southbound EDSA and the Mall of Asia, Manila Pier, Ninoy Aquino International Airport, and Taft Avenue. There is no access to EDSA from the Skyway.
KM 9	Skyway Entrance: Magallanes		This exit on Southbound SLEX provides access to the Skyway. This access ramp may be useful for commuters merging on the SLEX from EDSA, and commuters from the Skyway wishing to exit at Magallanes. From Manila, it is the exit came before entering Pasay City. From Calamba, on the skyway, it is situated after entering Makati City.
9	Sales Exit	Pasay City	This exit on the SLEX takes you to Sales Road. Westbound takes you to NAIA Terminal 3 and Villamor Airbase. From Calamba, Eastbound takes you to Taguig and Global City. Access to Sales Road from the Skyway is currently under construction, to improve access to NAIA Terminal 3. Southbound, the Sales exit has more of a cloverleaf layout. One exit takes you to WB Sales Road and the West Service Road, with no left turn access. Access to EB Sales Road is provided by a second exit.
KM 10	Nichols Toll Plaza Northbound		The Nichols Toll Plaza is located on the northbound lanes. There are two toll gates. One toll gate accounts for normal cash and coupon fares. The second toll gate is for the EPass Tollway Pass system. The system is the same for the Skyway toll gates, which are much smaller. It is here that the toll, limited access section of the SLEX begins.
12	C5 Exit		This exit on the northbound SLEX lanes takes you to the C5 Expressway to Taguig Global City and Pasig City. The C5 extension to the west towards the Manila-Cavite Expressway will begin construction in 2008.
13	Merville Exit		This exit on the southbound SLEX lanes takes you to the West Service Road. This exit also takes you to a temporary extension of C-5 into Pasay City.
14	Skyway: Bicutan Exit	Parañaque City	This separate Bicutan Exit on the southbound Skyway takes you to some residential areas in Parañaque City. There is no direct access to SM Bicutan or Taguig City.
14	Bicutan Exit		This exit takes you to a road where west goes to SM Bicutan and some residential areas in Parañaque City, and east goes to Taguig City. This interchange has more of a diamond interchange layout.
15	Skyway: San Martin de Porres temporary exit ramp		This exit on the SLEX heads to Sta. Maria Avenue and San Martin the Porres, Parañaque City. The ramp has been temporarily placed as a result of Skyway expansion towards Mandaluyong.
18	Sucat Exit	Muntinlupa City	This exit on the SLEX takes you to Dr. A. Santos Avenue, where westbound goes to the Memorial Parks, the Parañaque City Proper, and Ninoy Aquino International Airport. Eastbound goes to Taguig and Sucat. This exit also has a diamond interchange layout.
22	Alabang Exit		This exit on the SLEX provides the option of getting onto local roads around the Alabang area. Southbound, the exit takes you to the southbound National Highway and the Alabang-Zapote Road to Cavite City.
22	Filinvest Temporary Exit Southbound		The southbound Filinvest exit ramp has been cloesd. A temporary exit to the Filinvest district from the southbound lanes has been built. To access this exit, take the Alabang exit and keep right onto the exit. This exit is only available for Class 1 vehicles.
23	Filinvest Exit		This exit on the SLEX takes you to the Filinvest district. As aforementioned, the southbound exit has been closed. The northbound exit splits in two at the gore point. Exiting to the left takes you to the Filinvest district, while on the right is the northbound Alabang exit and leads towards the Alabang-Zapote Road.
KM 24	Caltex Service Station Northbound		This service station has been closed and demolished. A new northbound service station has been built further south.
KM 25	Shell Service Station Southbound
26	Susana Heights Exit (last exit of SLEX Metro Manila southbound)		This exit on the SLEX provides access to Susana Heights. Westbound heads to the Tunasan Proper and the Pepsi-Cola Bottlers, Inc. Philippines. Eastbound heads to the New Bilibid Prisons, the Muntinlupa City hall, and San Pedro, Laguna. It is at this exit that the exit numbers start to appear.
28	San Pedro Exit	San Pedro, Laguna	This exit along the SLEX southbound lanes takes you to San Pedro. A northbound exit is currently under construction.
KM 29	Caltex Service Station Northbound
KM 29	Petron Service Station Southbound
31	Southwoods Exit	Biñan, Laguna	This exit on the SLEX is located near the Southwoods Manor and Colegio San Agustin-Biñan. Westbound heads to the Southwoods Manor and (for southbound travellers) also serves as a shortcut to Carmona and Cavite province. Eastbound heads to San Pedro, Biñan Town Proper, Santa Rosa City, and Cabuyao.
33	Carmona Exit	Carmona, Cavite	This exit on the SLEX located at Governors Drive is probably the most resemblant of a US tollway interchange. Westbound goes to Dasmariñas, the Cavite Provincial Capitol in Trece Martires City, and Naic. Eastbound goes to Laguna and Metro Manila.
KM 35	Shell Service Station Northbound	Mamplasan, Binan, Laguna
36	Mamplasan Exit		This exit on the SLEX heads takes you to Mampalasan. Westbound goes towards some subdivisions. Eastbound heads to Pavillion Mall and Biñan Town Proper. Straight (southbound) on another road near the exit takes you to Santa rosa City and the province of Cavite.
KM 38	Caltex Service Station Southbound
40	Santa Rosa Exit	Santa Rosa City, Laguna	This exit on the SLEX is located near Santa Rosa. Eastbound goes to Santa Rosa City Proper, Enchanted Kingdom Amusement Park, Villa Susana Subdivision, Our Lady of Assumption College. Westbound goes to Laguna BelAir, Philippine National Police Academy, PNP-SAF Training School, and to the province of Cavite from Calamba Bound (Southbound)
KM 41	Total Service Station Northbound	Santa Rosa City, Laguna
42	ABI / Greenfield Exit	Santa Rosa City Cabuyao, Laguna	This exit is located near Cabuyao but does not have an access road to Cabuyao. Eastbound heads Santa Rosa City, Barangay Malitlit proper and Asia Brewery, Inc. Manufacturing Plant in Cabuyao. Only employees can pass at ABI. Westbound heads towards the Sta. Rosa access road, and is a public route. This exit serves as a shortcut (for northbound travellers) to head to Cavite province and Tagaytay.
43	Cabuyao Exit	Cabuyao, Laguna	This exit on the SLEX is located in Cabuyao. This exit provides access to Cabuyao. Eastbound goes to Malayan Colleges Laguna, Santa Rosa City, Cabuyao Town Proper, Katapatan Homes, Calamba City, and other parts of Laguna. Westbound heads to Canlubang.
45	Silangan Exit	Calamba City, Laguna	This exit on the southbound SLEX is the first exit in Calamba City. Eastbound heads to the Silangan Industrial Park. This is also an alternative route for Canlubang. Westbound heads to the rest of Laguna province. This exit provides no access to Calamba (due to a one-way road), so travellers to Calamba may either take the earlier Cabuyao exit or any of the later exits.
KM 46	Calamba Toll Plaza Southbound		This toll plaza marks the end of the toll section and the SLEX becomes a limited-access freeway. For E-Pass motorists there is has a counterflow lane towards the E-Pass toll gate, make sure that you do not take a U-turn, because it doesn't have barriers (from entrance to toll gate).
47	Canlubang Exit		This exit is located within Calamba. Eastbound heads to Calamba City Proper, while westbound heads to an industrial park, Camp Vicente Lim (PNP - CALABARZON Regional Office) and also serves as an alternate route to Tagaytay City.
48	Batino Exit		This exit is located on the southbound lanes of the SLEX and is yet another alternate route to Tagaytay City.
50	Calamba Exit		This exit is located at the end of the SLEX. Keeping to the left heads northbound to Calamba City proper, Rizal province, and Los Baños. Keeping to the right heads southbound to Batangas and Quezon province, and the Bicol region (Camarines Norte, Camarines Sur, Albay, Masbate, and Sorsogon).