// Workers AI · dad joke modeWhat did the Southern Access Link Expressway say? "I'm connected.
| Southern Access Link Expressway | |
|---|---|
| SALEX | |
| Route information | |
| Maintained by SMC Southern Access Link Expressway Corporation | |
| Length | 40.65 km[1] (25.26 mi) Section 1 (C3–R10): 4.52 km Section 2 Seg 1A (NMIA–PAREX): 16.42 km Section 2 Seg 1B (PAREX–CAVITEX): 8.87 km Section 2 Seg 2 (Quirino Extension): 1.97 km Section 2 Seg 3 (Buendia Extension): 8.87 km |
| Status | Under construction |
| Restrictions | No motorcycles below 400cc |
| Major junctions | |
| South end |  E6 (NAIAx) / Macapagal Boulevard at Parañaque |
| |
| North end | New Manila International Airport in Bulakan, Bulacan |
| Location | |
| Country | Philippines |
| Regions | Metro Manila, Central Luzon |
| Provinces | Bulacan |
| Major cities | Quezon City, Caloocan, Malabon, Manila, Pasay, Parañaque, Bulakan |
| Highway system | |
| |
The Southern Access Link Expressway (SALEX) is an under-construction 40.65-kilometer (25.26 mi) mixed at-grade and elevated expressway network in Metro Manila and Bulacan, Philippines.[1] Concessioned by San Miguel Corporation (SMC) through SMC Southern Access Link Expressway Corporation, the ₱152-billion expressway system is designed to provide direct tollway access to the New Manila International Airport (NMIA) via Manila's western shoreline and key arterial connections to Skyway Stage 3 (MMSS3), NAIA Expressway (NAIAX), and CAVITEX.[2][3]
History
[edit source]On June 20, 2022, SMC Infrastructure signed the Supplemental Toll Operations Agreement (STOA) for the project with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB), with the agreement taking effect on June 27, 2022.[1][4] Detailed Engineering Design (DED) was undertaken by Katahira & Engineers International alongside independent consultant TCGI Engineers Inc.[1]
In 2025, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) issued key Environmental Compliance Certificates (ECC) for various phases of SALEX:[1]
- May 21, 2025: ECC issued for Section 1 (C3–R10 Extension) under `ECC-OL-NCR-2025-0086`.[1]
- April 24, 2025: ECC issued for Section 2, Segment 1A (R10 North to NMIA) under `ECC-OL-NCR-2025-0077`.[1]
- June 28, 2025: ECC issued for Section 2, Segment 2 (Quirino Extension) under `ECC-OL-NCR-2025-0146`.[1]
By mid-2025, overall DED accomplishment reached 92.69%. Early advance construction works commenced along key alignment medians, completing 20 bored piles across 15 piers alongside column works and median island restoration.[1]
PAREX Cancellation and 2026 Tree-Cutting Controversy
[edit source]SALEX was originally conceptualized alongside the proposed Pasig River Expressway (PAREX). The PAREX project faced severe opposition from heritage conservationists, urban planners, and environmental groups over potential heritage destruction, elevated air pollution, and tree removal along the Pasig River corridor. In March 2024, SMC President Ramon S. Ang announced that PAREX had been dropped in response to public feedback.[5][6] However, connection provisions near the mouth of the Pasig River were retained in the SALEX master plan.[1]
In May 2026, SALEX became the center of public controversy when tree-cutting and earth-balling operations began along Quirino Avenue in Manila for Section 2, Segment 2.[7] Under a 90-day permit issued by DENR-NCR on March 26, 2026, over 600 mature trees along Quirino Avenue, San Marcelino Street, and Roxas Boulevard were targeted for removal or relocation.[8]
The tree removal sparked widespread outrage from residents, environmental groups, and heritage advocates citing concerns over urban heat island effects and lost green spaces.[7][9] On May 27, 2026, DENR Secretary Juan Miguel Cuna announced that SMC had voluntarily suspended tree-cutting operations to allow experts to evaluate remaining trees.[9] In response, SMC SALEX Corp. defended the project alignment as the most structurally feasible route with minimal community displacement, while committing 50,700 replacement seedlings to be planted in Manila.[10][11]
Route description
[edit source]SALEX consists of four primary corridor components spanning a total length of 40.65 kilometers (25.26 mi):[1][3]
Section 1: C3–R10 Extension (4.52 km)
[edit source]Connects Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3 (MMSS3) at Sgt. Rivera / C-3 Road in Quezon City and Caloocan to Radial Road 10 (R-10) in Navotas and Manila.[1][3]
Section 2: Shoreline Expressway
[edit source]- Segment 1A: NMIA to PAREX (16.42 km): Extends from the New Manila International Airport in Bulakan, Bulacan, running south along the western shoreline to the proposed PAREX interchange near the mouth of the Pasig River in Manila.[1]
- Segment 1B: PAREX to CAVITEX (8.87 km): Continues south along Roxas Boulevard and the Manila Bay shoreline, connecting Ayala Bridge via Padre Faura and A. Mabini Streets down to CAVITEX in Parañaque.[1][3]
Section 2, Segment 2: Quirino Extension (1.97 km)
[edit source]Elevated link connecting Skyway Stage 3 at the Quirino Interchange to the Shoreline Expressway along Roxas Boulevard via Quirino Avenue.[1][3]
Section 2, Segment 3: Buendia Extension (8.87 km)
[edit source]Links the NAIA Expressway (NAIAX) and Macapagal Boulevard to Gil Puyat Avenue (Buendia), Skyway Stage 3, and EDSA.[1][3]
Exit list
[edit source]| Province | City/Municipality | km | mi | Exit | Name | Destinations | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caloocan | C-3 / Sgt. Rivera Interchange |  E2 (Skyway Stage 3) | Northern terminus of Section 1 | ||||
| Manila | R-10 Interchange | R-10 | Southern terminus of Section 1; connection to Shoreline Expressway | ||||
| Manila | PAREX Interchange / Anda Circle | PAREX / Bonifacio Drive | Junction with proposed PAREX alignment | ||||
| Manila | Quirino Interchange | E2 (Skyway Stage 3) | Connection via Quirino Extension | ||||
| Pasay | Buendia Interchange | Gil Puyat Avenue / Roxas Boulevard | Connection via Buendia Extension to EDSA and Skyway | ||||
| Parañaque | NAIAX / CAVITEX Interchange | E6 (NAIA Expressway) /  E3 (CAVITEX) | Southern terminus of Section 2 | ||||
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
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See also
[edit source]References
[edit source]- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 2025 2nd Quarter PES Monitoring Report (PDF) (Report). Philippine National Construction Corporation. Retrieved August 6, 2026.
- ↑ "PSE Disclosure: SMC spending P328b to build three new Luzon expressways" (PDF). San Miguel Corporation / Philippine Stock Exchange. June 26, 2024. Retrieved August 6, 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Southern Access Link Expressway". SMC Infrastructure. Retrieved August 6, 2026.
- ↑ Mercurio, Richmond (June 22, 2022). "SMC government sign STOA for SALEX project". The Philippine Star. Retrieved August 6, 2026.
- ↑ Rosales, Elijah Felice (March 19, 2024). "SMC scraps plans to build P100 billion Pasig River tollway". The Philippine Star. Retrieved August 6, 2026.
- ↑ Piad, Tyrone Jasper C. (March 19, 2024). "San Miguel drops PAREx project". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Retrieved August 6, 2026.
- 1 2 "WRAP: Manila trades dwindling tree cover for expressway project". ABS-CBN News. May 24, 2026. Retrieved August 6, 2026.
- ↑ "Bare under the sun: Tree cutting along Quirino Avenue sparks backlash". Daily Tribune. May 18, 2026. Retrieved August 6, 2026.
- 1 2 Moaje, Marita (May 27, 2026). "DENR: SALEX tree cutting suspended, remaining trees under review". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved August 6, 2026.
- ↑ Rosales, Elijah Felice (June 2, 2026). "SMC: 51,000 seedlings replacing Quirino trees". The Philippine Star. Retrieved August 6, 2026.
- ↑ "Cutting of trees needed for road project – SMC". Philippine Daily Inquirer. June 2, 2026. Retrieved August 6, 2026.
