SLEX Set to Open 2 New Lanes To Ease Holiday Traffic

Two additional lanes on a 29-kilometer stretch of the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) are set to open in December, just in time to help ease the usual holiday traffic congestion. The expansion, which spans from Susana Heights in Muntinlupa to Calamba, Laguna, will increase the current 4-lane expressway to a 6×6 lane layout.

Image from SMC

The extension is expected to be open to the public in the third week of December 2024, with project officials assuring that construction will remain on schedule. The upgrades are designed to accommodate the expected increase of motorists during the holiday season, promising faster travel times to and from Southern Luzon.

“This December, as our countrymen prepare to celebrate Christmas and travel more to spend time with friends and family, they can look forward to a wider, better SLEX. This will help in significantly reducing traffic buildup during the holiday rush,” said San Miguel Corporation (SMC) chairman and CEO Ramon S. Ang.

Long-Term Benefits

The project includes advanced features such as Automatic License Plate Recognition (ALPR) cameras at toll booths, which are expected to improve the efficiency of toll collection in the area. In addition to this, outdated infrastructures such as the Calamba Main Toll Plaza and the SLEX Greenfield Toll Plaza, has been decommissioned to repurpose the space for expanded roads.

This upgrade is part of a larger initiative to improve regional connectivity. A subsequent phase, extending from Calamba to Sto. Tomas, Batangas, is set to be completed by July 2025 and will include the construction of 20 bridges. The total budget for the project has reached ₱11.33 billion, with an additional ₱3.27 billion allocated for the current upgrades.

These improvements are expected to drive regional economic growth, especially in Region 4A, which contributes 15% to the national GDP. Ang also highlighted the significance of the project and the benefits it will bring to motorists and stakeholders alike: 

“The SLEX expansion is a major undertaking that entailed significant effort and investment, and a lot of patience and cooperation from motorists and stakeholders. We are very glad that motorists can soon enjoy faster trips to and from Southern Luzon,”

References:

De Leon, R. (n.d.). SLEX 6-lane expansion, enhanced RFID system set for Q4 Completion. AutoCar. https://autocar.com.ph/slex-6-lane-expansion-enhanced-rfid-system-set-for-q4-completion/

PortCalls. (2024, November 28). New SLEX lanes to open by late Dec. PortCalls. Retrieved December 2, 2024, from https://portcalls.com/new-slex-lanes-to-open-by-late-dec/

Valmonte, K. (n.d.). SLEX slated to open 2 new lanes this December. Rappler. https://www.rappler.com/business/south-luzon-expressway-new-lanes-december-2024/