By Engr. Jay B. Laurino Department of Transportation (DOTr) Acting Secretary Giovanni Lopez announces the planned December opening of the fi...
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| Department of Transportation (DOTr) Acting Secretary Giovanni Lopez announces the planned December opening of the first three packages of the South Luzon Expressway Toll Road 4. (DOTr) |
LUCENA CITY, Quezon - Travel between Batangas and Quezon is expected to become significantly faster before the end of the year as the first operational section of the South Luzon Expressway Toll Road 4 (SLEX TR4) prepares to open. The milestone marks the first public use of the long-awaited expressway after years of construction and is expected to improve regional connectivity across Southern Luzon.
Transportation Secretary Giovanni "Banoy" Lopez recently said the first three construction packages are targeted to begin operations in November or December. The initial phase will connect Sto. Tomas, Batangas and Tiaong, Quezon, giving motorists a faster alternative to the heavily used Maharlika Highway while paving the way for the gradual completion of the remaining sections.
Lopez said motorists using the new section can expect travel time between Sto. Tomas and Tiaong to drop from about two hours to only 30 minutes. He said the shorter travel time will improve daily commuting, reduce transport delays and provide a more efficient route for freight operators, businesses and private motorists.
"We are targeting the inauguration and start of operations around November or December this year," Lopez said. He added that government agencies are completing the remaining requirements needed before the expressway can be safely opened to motorists and regular traffic.
Lopez said the project's full impact will be realized once all six construction packages are completed. He said travel time between Batangas and Lucena City is expected to drop from around four hours to about one hour, making interprovincial travel faster while improving access to economic centers.
"Ang usual travel time po natin diyan is 4 hours. Once mabuksan na po natin ang buong TR4 natin, magiging isang oras na lang po. Malaking tulong ito sa mas mabilis na pagbiyahe ng mga tao at sa mas episyenteng pagdadala ng mga kalakal sa pagitan ng Batangas at Quezon," Lopez said.
Around 17,000 motorists are expected to use the expressway daily once the first operational sections are opened. The improved corridor is also expected to speed up the movement of agricultural products, manufactured goods and tourists while supporting stronger trade and investment across Batangas, Quezon and neighboring provinces.
The transportation chief described SLEX TR4 as one of the administration's priority transport infrastructure projects being implemented in coordination with the Department of Public Works and Highways. He also expressed hope that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. would recognize the project as one of the government's major infrastructure accomplishments.
The remaining three construction packages will be completed in phases as work continues toward the full opening of the expressway. Once all six segments are operational, motorists will be able to travel the entire 66.74-kilometer route from Sto. Tomas, Batangas to Lucena City through a continuous high-speed expressway.
The ₱58.4-billion project is being developed by San Miguel Infrastructure under a build-operate-transfer arrangement, with the Toll Regulatory Board serving as project guarantor. The expressway is expected to become one of Southern Luzon's most important transport corridors by reducing logistics costs, improving road efficiency and supporting long-term economic growth throughout the CALABARZON region.
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