SMC president Ramon S. Ang said that with the opening of the Nagtahan exit ramps, motorists can expect to further cut their travel time to Manila, even as traffic congestion at major throughfares commonly used to access Sta. Mesa and other nearby areas, is seen to further ease.

SMC, which fully-funded 100 percent of the Skyway Stage 3 project, including the acquisition of right-of-way properties and reconstruction of public bridges, to ensure no government funds or taxpayer money is spent on the project, officially opened the main alignment of the elevated expressway last January. However, due to right-of-way issues, delivery of some access ramps had to come a little later.

Ang said that northbound ramps that are next to be opened include the Quirino exit (heading to Roxas Blvd.), Quirino entry, Nagtahan entry, E. Rodriguez Entry, and Sgt. Rivera (C3) exit. Meanwhile, southbound access points to be opened soon are the A. Bonifacio entry, Sgt. Rivera (C3) exit, Sgt. Rivera (C3) entry, and Quirino exit.

With the opening of the Nagtahan exits, operational access ramps of Skyway 3 now include: Northbound—Buendia (Zobel) entry, Quirino Avenue exit, Nagtahan exit, Quezon Avenue exit, Quezon Avenue entry, A. Bonifacio exit and Balintawak exit; Southbound—Balintawak entry, Quezon Avenue exit, Quezon Avenue entry, E. Rodriguez exit, Nagtahan exit, Plaza Dilao entry, and Buendia (Zobel) exit.

Recently, SMC also opened the four-kilometer northbound section of the Skyway Extension project from Susana Heights to Sucat, allowing motorists from provinces south of Metro Manila to directly access the Skyway System without having to go through the Alabang viaduct. They are also accelerating construction on the southbound side.

The Skyway Stage 3 and the Skyway Extension project are part of SMC’s 38-kilometer elevated Skyway System, which aims to reduce traffic congestion along major thoroughfares including EDSA and provide a seamless link from the South Luzon Expressway to the North Luzon Expressway.