The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said on Thursday it plans to complete the whole C-5 South Link earlier than the original target completion date with partial operations set to start next month.
DPWH Secretary Mark A. Villar said the Metro Pacific Tollways South Corp. (MPT South), through Cavitex Infrastructure Corp., is implementing a 24/7 work schedule to complete the full alignment of 7.7 kilometers by 2021.
“We are looking at the last quarter, but partial [operation] of this 2.2-kilometer segment up to Merville will open by July 23,” he said in an interview.
Known as Segment 3A1, the road spans from Merville in Parañaque to Taguig, featuring a bridge that crosses over the at-grade portion of both Skyway and the South Luzon Expressway (Slex). It aims to decongest Sales Road, the East Service Road and the West Service Road.
Villar said the toll for the first segment is projected to be between P20 and P22.
“We are fast-tracking the construction to be able…to immediacy alleviate congestion,” Villar said. “Vehicular traffic spends about 1.5 hours just to cross from Villamor to Taguig via Fort Bonifacio. This section alone will help about 5,000 vehicles easily cross under three minutes.”
Cavitex President Roberto V. Bontia said once completed, the C-5 South Link will create a chain of positive reaction for Metro Manila’s major roads.
“It will benefit about 50,000 cars in key areas of Metro Manila such as Makati, Taguig, Las Piñas, Pasay and Parañaque, as well as the roads of Edsa, Sales, East and West Service Roads,” he said.