SMC to open first 20-km of SLEX TR4 in 2022

DPWH, SMC inspect work on the upcoming SLEX TR4 project

Earlier this year, San Miguel Corporation boss Ramon S. Ang announced they will pick up the pace in finishing some of the key segments of the South Luzon Expressway Toll Road 4 (SLEX TR4). Measuring a total of 66.74-km, the extended toll road will connect Sto. Tomas, Batangas with Lucena City in Quezon once finished.

Fast forward to the present day, and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Mark Villar said that SMC is looking to open the first segment of SLEX TR4 sometime next year.

Villar announced that the company plans on finishing the first 20-km portion of the project, which will span from Makban in Bay, Laguna to Tiaong, Quezon, by early 2022. He added that work on the Makban-Tiaong section is now 21% complete. Meanwhile, over 50% of right-of-way (ROW) acquisitions have been secured.

While there is still plenty of work to do, Villar says that they are confident that SLEX TR4 will be able to reach Tiaong, Quezon in 2022.

“Balak po namin tapusin ang first portion hanggang Tiaong by next year para mapakinabangan na ang SLEX TR4 at para umabot na ang expressway network hanggang Quezon,” said Villar.

[We plan to finish the first portion until Tiaong by next year so motorists can take advantage of SLEX TR4 and for the expressway network to reach Quezon]

The four-lane, 66.74-km expressway project is set to reduce travel time between Sto. Tomas, Batangas and Lucena City, Quezon from 4 hours to just 45 minutes. The new roadway will begin from Sto. Tomas, Batangas; pass through Makban and San Pablo in Laguna; reach Tiaong, Quezon; enter Candelaria, Quezon; extend towards Tayabas, Quezon; and finally arrive at Lucena City in Quezon.

Villar expects that the entire SMC Infrastructure project will be completed in Q4 of 2024.