New SLEX access opens in San Pedro to ease daily commute

The long-awaited northbound interchange in San Pedro City, Laguna officially opened to motorists on August 1, providing a more direct connection to Metro Manila from the city and its neighboring areas.

The new entry and exit ramps on the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) are expected to ease traffic congestion along surrounding roads and offer a more efficient travel option for commuters heading north. Previously, San Pedro motorists lacked direct access to the northbound lane of SLEX, often resorting to circuitous routes through Muntinlupa and Biñan.

The %u20B1915-million project was implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Regional Office IV-A and Laguna 2nd District Engineering Office through multi-year contracts beginning in 2018.

At the ceremonial opening on Friday, key government officials led the inauguration, including DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan, Department of Transportation Secretary Vivencio Dizon, Toll Regulatory Board Executive Director Jose Arturo Tugade, Laguna 1st District Representative Rene Ann Lourdes Matibag, and Laguna Governor Sol Aragones.

DPWH Undersecretary Eugenio Pipo Jr., Assistant Secretary Loreta Malaluan, and officials from DPWH Region IV-A also joined the event.

“This project stands as a clear example of what we can achieve when we work together—government, private sector, and communities united under a shared goal,” Bonoan said. “It reflects our broader commitment under the Build Better More Infrastructure Agenda of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.”

Before the opening, motorists from San Pedro heading to Metro Manila had to either take the Manila South Road to the Susana Heights Interchange or make multiple toll plaza entries and exits via Southwoods. Southbound travelers to San Pedro faced similar detours.

With the opening of the new interchange, officials said travel time and fuel costs are expected to be reduced, while access to Clark and Manila is now more direct.

The new SLEX access point is part of a broader infrastructure program aimed at improving regional mobility and addressing long-standing connectivity gaps in key growth areas.