The Gateway to the South: SLEX

When traveling great distances between the different cities and regions to get to your house and lot for sale in Luzon, one of the three major islands in the Philippines, there is a necessary use of the Philippines expressways, other than a skyway system to save time. The Philippine expressway network is a “controlled-access highway network” that enables safe, smooth, and fast mobility to pass across strategic regions and cities in Luzon to foster socio-economic activities and growth for the country while reducing heavy traffic, especially when you travel on your car from urbanized cities like Manila to as far as Quezon.

Facilitated by the Department of Public Works and Highways, the Philippines expressway network or High Standard Highway Network comprise multi-lane roads that make travel time to your house and lot for sale efficient that utilize toll gates mandated by the government. One of the expressway networks in Luzon is the Southern Luzon Expressway (SLEX). This blog aims to give an overview of the SLEX and its significance not just to Manila, but to Luzon as well in modern times.

What is the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX)?

Photo from foundation-specialists.com

Built during the 1960s, the South Luzon Expressway or SLEX was initially constructed to create an extension from Magallanes (Makati) in Manila to Alabang (Muntinlupa City); however, construction was done in the 1970s to make the SLEX reach southward to Calamba (Laguna). At present, the SLEX is comprised of three expressways that stretch from Makati, passing through Muntinlupa City, Laguna, to Sto. Tomas, Batangas. Essentially, the SLEX connects Metro Manila to the CALABARZON (Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal, and Quezon) region.

Moreover, the South Luzon Expressway, or SLEX is operated under the San Miguel Corporation (SMC) and has been developed to have an extension at a length of 46.9 kilometers located at its northern terminus (Magallanes Interchange, Makati), to its southern terminus (Sto. Tomas, Batangas). The SLEX is also signed as R-3 of the Manila arterial road network, and as E2 of the High Standard Highway Network, wherein the southern part of the SLEX connects to the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR Tollway).

What is the purpose of the SLEX?

As previously stated, the construction of the South Luzon Expressway, or SLEX connects Metro Manila to the CALABARZON region in Luzon and stimulates national socio-economic development in strategic locations. Furthermore, one of the expressway networks leading to the south is the Muntinlupa-Cavite Expressway (MCX) and the Cavite-Laguna Expressway or CALAX; the SLEX is another network that motorists can use to travel to the south of Luzon to get to their work or house and lot for sale, especially since the SLEX connects to the STAR Tollway in the south of Luzon.

Furthermore, the SLEX is included "as a major utility corridor, carrying various high voltage overhead power lines and an oil pipeline.” Lines that utilize the SLEX include the Calamba-Bay and Biñan-Calamba power lines, the Sucat-Paco-Araneta-Balintawak transmission line, and the Batangas-Pandacan oil pipeline.

The SLEX Operators

With the aim of rehabilitating the South Luzon Expressway or SLEX, the San Miguel Corporation (SMC) SLEX INC, which was formerly called the South Luzon Tollway Corporation, was established in 2000. This rehabilitation was incorporated by SMC SLEX INC as a way to maximize the SLEX’s service of connecting two expressway networks: the Skyway System in the north of Luzon and the STAR Tollway in the south of Luzon.

Given this, SMC SLEX INC is the concessionaire of the SLEX, which means that the SLEX is property granted to SMC by the government in exchange for the construction, repairing, development, and upgrading of the services of the SLEX for the use of Filipinos. At present, four project toll roads under the SMC comprise the SLEX, including the Alabang Viaduct, “an extension of the SLEX to Sto. Tomas, Batangas,” “expansion from Filinvest exit to Calamba, Laguna,” and the extension of Sto. Tomas, Batangas, to Lucena City, Quezon.

Short History of the SLEX

Photo from carguide.ph

Planning and Development

The South Luzon Expressway or SLEX began its construction in the 1960s was only 15 kilometers long, connecting the EDSA (Highway 54) in Magallanes, Makati to the Alabang Exit in Muntinlupa. In the 1970s, the SLEX gave an extension of 29 kilometers, enabling the SLEX to reach Calamba, Laguna. Rehabilitation of the SLEX was then conducted in 1995.

Expansion

Starting in 2006, several projects of rehabilitation were done on the SLEX. This includes the expansion of the Santa Rosa-Calamba section into six lanes, the expansion of the Alabang-Santa Rosa section into eight lanes, and the Alabang Viaduct. The Alabang viaduct was turned from three lanes to four lanes as well. The Filinvest exit was also widened to eight lanes.

Toll Fees System of the SLEX

The South Luzon Expressway or SLEX’s toll system is integrated with the MCX and South Metro Manila Skyway Project, incorporating a “closed and barrier toll system.” A toll system, like the one utilized by the aforementioned expressway networks, is incorporated as a way to extract toll fees from drivers on the road who use the expressway networks and enter the toll gates while traveling from their house and lot for sale. Toll fees are payments collected for the purpose of the maintenance and rehabilitation of the respective expressway network.

RFID System for the SLEX

Cash is accepted as toll fees in the toll system of SLEX, although a Radio Frequency Identification System (RFID) is now implemented in the SLEX. Particularly, the SMC, which is the one operating the SLEX at present, offers one of two different RFIDs, called an Autosweep RFID, to pay toll fees. Hence, you can request to use an Autosweep RFID to pay toll fees in the STAR Rollway, Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX), and the NAIAX. The installation sites for the Autosweep RFID for paying toll fees in the SLEX include Eton Toll Plaza (northbound), Southwoods Toll Plaza (northbound), TPLEX Tarlac Main Office (northbound), and After Calamba Entry Toll Plaza.

Vehicle Class Systems for the SLEX

The toll system in the SLEX follows a system for classifying vehicles on the road, wherein vehicles that fall within one of the three specific vehicle classes pay different toll fees. Toll fees for the different vehicle classes also depend on which toll gates you will enter on the SLEX road. You may check the official Toll Regulatory Board official website for the toll fee pricing or cost.

The different vehicle classes for toll fees to take note of are as follows:

Class 1

Class 1 vehicles are typically personal vehicles on the road, like your car in your house and lot for sale, that is not as big as trucks. Examples include cars, motorcycles, jeepneys, and vans. Specifically, these vehicles have a maximum of 2 axles and a height that reaches up to 7.5 feet only. When it comes to high-roof vans, a specific height requirement must be satisfied for a vehicle to be categorized under Class 1. For example, a Hi-Ace van satisfies the height requirement of a Class 1 vehicle, but a Hyundai H350 does not.

Class 2

Class 2 vehicles typically involve vehicles bigger than a car on the road like light trucks and buses. They specifically have 2 axles and a height of over 7.5 feet. However, if a Class 1 vehicle were to have a trailer attached to it, then it would be classified under Class 2 because the total number of axles of the vehicle would increase.

Class 3

Class 3 vehicles include the biggest vehicles on the road. These vehicles usually have 3 or more axles with a height of over 7.5 feet. Large trucks with or without a trailer comprise this class of vehicles. Although big vehicles such as buses are categorized as Class 2 vehicles, what separates Class 3 vehicles is that they have 3 or more axles instead of just 2 axles on the road.

Read more: The Benefits of Living Close to the South Luzon Expressway