Batangas: The first three packages of the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) Toll Road 4 (TR4) covering the Batangas-Quezon stretch are set to open before the end of the year, Transportation Secretary Giovanni "Banoy" Lopez announced.
According to Philippines News Agency, Lopez revealed in a televised interview on ANC that the new portion of the expressway will significantly reduce travel time between Sto. Tomas, Batangas, and Tiaong, Quezon from 2 hours to just 30 minutes. "By the end of this year, we can start using the TR4. Mai-inaugurate po natin 'yan. Ang target natin diyan, mga November, December start of operations of TR4," Lopez stated.
Furthermore, Lopez highlighted that once the entire SLEX TR4 is completed, travel time between Batangas and Lucena will decrease from 4 hours to just 1 hour. An estimated 17,000 motorists are expected to benefit daily from the SLEX TR4 once it opens, enhancing the connectivity between these regions.
Lopez expressed his hope that President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. will feature the project in his upcoming State of the Nation Address (SONA). He emphasized the project's importance, noting its role as a major initiative in collaboration with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
The SLEX TR4 is part of a PHP58.4 billion build-operate-transfer project developed by San Miguel Infrastructure, with the Toll Regulatory Board serving as the project guarantor. The 66.74-km expressway aims to extend the current SLEX system from Sto. Tomas, Batangas to Lucena City in Quezon, ultimately reducing travel time between these points to just 1 hour upon full completion.
