The South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) is set to complete its major upgrades by the end of the year, expanding its 36.1-kilometer main carriageway to six lanes on each side and enhancing its cashless toll collection system to feature barrier-less toll plazas.
These improvements by SMC SLEX Inc. aim to future-proof the tollway, crucial for Region 4A, which accounts for about 20% of the Philippines’ GDP. In addition to the lane expansion, 20 bridges along the expressway are being widened to alleviate traffic congestion and improve vehicle flow.
“SMC SLEX Inc. is committed to enhancing SLEX to support the economic growth of the Calabarzon Region,” said a company spokesperson. “The upgrades will provide a better travel experience and facilitate quicker movement of goods and services.”
Seamless Southern Tollways Project
In 2022, SMC SLEX launched the Seamless Southern Tollways initiative, which reduced the number of stops along the Skyway, SLEX, and Star Tollway. The project led to the decommissioning of the Calamba Main Toll Plaza and SLEX Greenfield Toll Plaza, which are now being converted to pass-through lanes.
New Innovations in Toll Collection
SMC SLEX has also installed automatic license plate readers (ALPR) at entry toll plazas, reducing the need for barriers and aligning with government mandates for contactless toll systems. This upgrade allows for accurate toll charging through RFID tags and ALPR cameras, which cross-reference vehicle entry and exit. Lastly, to further support the increasing traffic volume, the company is enhancing its server capacity.
For more information, SMC SLEX at https://smcslex.com.ph/
