MANILA - San Miguel Corp. (SMC) on Monday said it is set to begin construction of a new expressway that will connect Taguig City to Quezon City.

The first phase of the Southeast Metro Manila Expressway (SEMME) or C6 will span 34 kilometers from Skyway/FTI to Batasan Complex, SMC said.

"We're very glad to be starting 2018 on a very positive note. Because of the hard work of our partners in government, we will finally be able to proceed with this vital infrastructure project," SMC President Ramon S. Ang said.

• Read: SMC looks to expand SLEX, Skyway, NAIAex

It is expected to ease traffic congestion in major thoroughfares including EDSA, C-5, Ortigas Avenue and Ortigas Extension while “providing commuters from Metro Manila and the south faster and direct access to the country’s major airport,” SMC said.

On Monday, SMC, with the Department of Transportation (DOTr), the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB), the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), and the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) led the groundbreaking for Section 1, Phase 1 of the project.

DOTr Sec. Tugade, San Miguel Corp. representatives at SEMME groundbreaking. SMC is project concessionaire pic.twitter.com/EEepaTJNLa

— DOTr (@DOTrPH) January 8, 2018

SMC’s unit Citra Intercity Tollways, Inc. will handle the project, which is expected to be completed by 2020.

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