Pasig River Expressway

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Pasig River Expressway
Route information
Length19.365 km[1] (12.033 mi)
excluding the 2.70 km (1.68 mi) portion of Skyway Stage 3
Major junctions
West end AH 26 (N120) (Radial Road 10) in Manila[2]
East end E2 (Southeast Metro Manila Expressway) in Taytay, Rizal[3]
Location
MunicipalitiesTaytay
Major citiesManila, Mandaluyong, Makati, Pasig, Taguig
Highway system
  • Roads in the Philippines

The Pasig River Expressway (PAREX) is a future expressway in Metro Manila, Philippines that will skirt the banks of the Pasig River and connect the City of Manila to the province of Rizal. The expressway is being planned to decongest traffic and to cure the pollution of the Pasig River. It is a project by the joint venture between Philippine National Construction Corporation and San Miguel Holdings Corporation.[4] The project broke ground on September 24, 2021, while construction of the expressway has yet to start.[5]

Route description[]

The expressway will start from Radial Road 10 in Manila and will end at Southeast Metro Manila Expressway in Pasig. There will be three segments, in addition to utilizing the portion of the Skyway Stage 3 from Plaza Azul (Nagtahan) to San Juan River in Manila.[1][2][4][6]

Segment Coverage Kilometers
Segment 1 Radial Road 10 to Plaza Azul 5.74
MMSS3 Plaza Azul to San Juan River 2.70
Segment 2 San Juan River to C-5 Intersection 7.32
Segment 3 C-5 Intersection to C-6 Intersection 6.30

From Manila at the west, the expressway will run along the southern bank of Pasig River. It would turn to the land in Paco, where it will utilize the right-of-way of Paz Mendoza-Guazon Street and Quirino Avenue before meeting Skyway Stage 3's Nagtahan Exit at Plaza Azul. Its utilization of Skyway's segment starts at Plaza Dilao Exit and ends at the future San Juan Intersection with Skyway Stage 3 above San Juan River. From there, it would resume and cuts through Punta, Santa Ana, Manila before retaking the Pasig River alignment at the southern bank up to the future Southeast Metro Manila Expressway/C-6 in Taytay, Rizal.[7]

History[]

First proposed circa 2017 as the Manila–Taguig Expressway (MTEX), a project of Citra Group and PT Citra Persada Infrastruktur,[8][9] the expressway is planned as a viaduct over the Pasig River and the Laguna de Bay, and a network of bridges similar to the proposed Metro Manila Skybridge. The expressway will have three segments and two- to six-lane viaducts and bridges. The overall length of the expressway will be 19.365 kilometers (12.033 mi).[1] The project has an estimated cost of ₱95.413 billion and an estimated implementation period of 36 months.[1] The expressway is believed to provide more benefits, like the cheaper cleanup and pollution prevention to the then polluted Pasig River.

San Miguel Corporation is interested to tap Filipino green architect Felino "Jun" Palafox to create an environmentally-friendly Pasig River Expressway system.[10]

However, the project was opposed by some transport advocates in April and July 2021, citing environmental concerns.[11][12] Advocates and organizations pointed out that the construction of more new roads would only worsen traffic congestion by attracting more vehicle use, thus decreasing mobility in a phenomenon known as induced demand.[13] The project was also opposed by heritage advocates, as the alignment of the project, particularly Segment 1 from Radial Road 10 to Plaza Dilao, would transverse multiple heritage sites such as Intramuros, Fort Santiago, and the Manila Central Post Office.[14] Concerns were raised as the proximity of the project to these heritage sites would not only disrupt the visual integrity of these heritage sites, but also as the vibrations during the construction of the project could also damage the structural integrity of these landmarks.[15]

The project's technical aspects and financial aspects were approved by the Toll Regulatory Board on July 14, and a public scoping was held by the DENR the same day. The public scoping report indicated that 101 representatives were present at the scoping, most of which had raised concerns on the project's environmental impacts and a lack of information on the project's detailed engineering designs. The report stated that each of these concerns were responded to with a promise for a follow-up public scoping to take place in October 2021.[16]

On September 21, 2021, the Supplemental Toll Operations Agreement (STOA) were approved by the government on September 21, 2021, wherein a formal agreement was signed between the San Miguel Corporation, the Department of Transportation, and the Department of Public Works and Highways at a groundbreaking ceremony held on September 24, 2021.[5]

The issues with the expressway were responded to by San Miguel Corporation President Ramon Ang, who emphasized the fact that the project would be at no cost to the government, dispelled misinformation suggesting that the expressway would cover the whole Pasig River instead of being built along it, and mentioned parallel plans to rehabilitate the river by widening and dredging the river at certain points. In response to concerns of induced demand, Ang responded that the project would accommodate a bus rapid transit system, bike lanes, and pedestrian infrastructure.[17]

Advocates indicated that whether or not the project would be built along or above the river is irrelevant as the project itself would be inviting air pollution into a corridor that previously did not have any.[15] Mobility advocates also pointed out that Ang had only mentioned the inclusion of bus rapid transit system, bike lanes, and pedestrian infrastructure in response to criticism, and was not present in the project's technical details. The implementation was also in question, as having the mentioned infrastructure on an elevated highway would make it difficult for people to access.[15] Furthermore, critics also questioned how the project was being approved despite the lack of an environmental compliance certificate from the DENR, which is needed before any construction can start.[18]

Construction of the expressway is expected to begin in 2022[19] and to be complete by 2023, pending the signature of President Rodrigo Duterte to start construction.[20]

Exits[]

Exits and intersections will be numbered by kilometer posts and station, starting from the R-10 intersection designated as Kilometer 0. However, station markers of Segment 2 from San Juan to C-5 Intersection apparently designates Rizal Park as Kilometer 0.[7] 

RegionProvinceCity/Municipalitykm[7]miExitNameDestinationsNotes
Metro ManilaManila0.0000.000R-10 AH 26 (N120) (Mel Lopez Boulevard)Western terminus
U-Belt N180 (Circumferential Road 1)Type of interchange to be determined; access to University Belt
5.7403.567Plaza AzulSkywayEastern end of Section 1; start of Skyway Stage 3 utilization; connection with Skyway's Plaza Dilao Exit
5.360–
8.440		3.331–
5.244		San Juan (Tomas Claudio Street) / SkywayEastern end of Skyway Stage 3 utilization; start of Section 2
MakatiBuendiaA.P. Reyes AvenueType of interchange to be determined; access to Buendia Avenue via A.P. Reyes and Chino Roces Avenues
MandaluyongMandaluyongSan Francisco StreetType of interchange to be determined
Makati8.55.3F. Zobel StreetRamp 5; eastbound exit only
Mandaluyong8.85.5Makati–Mandaluyong BridgeRamp 6; westbound entrance only
MakatiMakati CityMakati AvenueType of interchange to be determined
11.37.0RockwellJ.P. Rizal AvenueRamps 9 and 10; eastbound exit and westbound entrance
Makati–Mandaluyong boundaryEDSA AH 26 (N1) (EDSA)Type of interchange to be determined
PasigPioneerPioneer StreetType of interchange to be determined
Makati–Pasig boundary11.3107.028BGCLawton Avenue / J.P. Rizal Avenue – BGCApparently Ramps 7 and 8; eastbound exit and westbound entrance
15.7659.796C-5 N11 (Circumferential Road 5) / C-5 ExpresswayEnd of Segment 2; start of Segment 3[21]
CalabarzonRizalTaytay22.06513.711SEMME (C-6) E2 (Southeast Metro Manila Expressway)Eastern terminus
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
  •       Unopened

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d "TRB Declares South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) Toll Road 5 And Pasig River Expressway Projects As Toll Road Projects". DOTr. August 5, 2020. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
  2. ^ a b "SMC LINES UP NEXT GAME-CHANGERS: SLEX TR5, PASIG RIVER EXPRESSWAY". San Miguel Corporation. August 25, 2020. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
  3. ^ Cordero, Ted (August 25, 2020). "San Miguel investing P122B for SLEX Toll Road 5, Pasig River Expressway projects". GMA News. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
  4. ^ a b "Pasig River Expressway (PAREX) Project". Department of Public Works and Highways. Retrieved February 14, 2021.
  5. ^ a b Grecia, Leandre (September 24, 2021). "SMC, DOTr, DPWH break ground for Pasig River Expressway". Top Gear Philippines. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  6. ^ Rodriguez, Mia (August 26, 2020). "In the Works: A Six-Lane Elevated Expressway Crossing the "Entirety" of Pasig River". Spot.ph.
  7. ^ a b c SMC Infrastructure (July 2021). "Project Description for Scoping Pasig River Expressway Project" (PDF). Environmental Impact Assessment and Management Division. Retrieved September 22, 2021.
  8. ^ "Manila-Taguig expressway under evaluation by DPWH". AutoIndustriya. February 6, 2017. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  9. ^ Camus, Miguel (February 2, 2017). "P100-B tollroad projects proposed". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved October 13, 2021.
  10. ^ Rey, Aika (September 28, 2021). "Ramon Ang: 'Forces critical' of PAREX pressuring Palafox, no deal yet". Rappler. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  11. ^ Madarang, Catalina S. (April 23, 2021). "Critics of Pasig River expressway project ask gov't to prioritize people over cars". InterAksyon. Retrieved April 24, 2021.
  12. ^ Cabico, Gaea Katreena (July 19, 2021). "Planned Pasig River expressway may just make traffic, pollution worse — groups". The Philippine Star. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  13. ^ Siy, Robert (April 17, 2021). "Do we really need a Pasig River expressway?". The Manila Times. Retrieved May 14, 2021.
  14. ^ "'A problem, not a solution': Groups slam proposed Pasig River expressway". Rappler. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  15. ^ a b c Oct 1, Christa I. De La Cruz; 2021. "Here's Why PAREX Might Be a Bad Idea, According to an Urban Planner". SPOT.PH. Retrieved October 8, 2021.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  16. ^ "Mobility advocates question 'unusually fast' gov't approval of PAREX". Rappler. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  17. ^ Cordero, Ted (September 24, 2021). "Ramon Ang addresses criticisms vs. Pasig River Expressway project". GMA News. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  18. ^ Camus, Miguel R. (September 29, 2021). "Ramon Ang responds to firestorm of criticism over planned Pasig River Expressway". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved October 8, 2021.
  19. ^ "SMC breaks ground for ₱95B Pasig River Expressway project". CNN Philippines. September 24, 2021. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  20. ^ "After Skyway 3, San Miguel aims to start work on Pasig River Expressway in Feb". ABS-CBN News. January 14, 2021.
  21. ^ UNTV News and Rescue [@UNTVNewsRescue] (September 24, 2021). "Isinagawa ang groundbreaking para sa pagpapatayo ng Pasig River Expressway o PAREX Project na magdudugtong sa eastern at western area ng Metro Manila" (Tweet) (in Filipino). Retrieved September 24, 2021 – via Twitter.
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