MANILA - San Miguel Corp's toll road unit is set to break ground on a new expressway that will connect the provinces of Laguna, Batangas and Quezon, the company said Monday.

SMC said it will hold groundbreaking ceremonies on Tuesday for its 66.74-kilometer South Luzon Expressway Toll Road 4 (TR4).

The new toll road is expected to reduce travel time to and from Sto. Tomas, Batangas to Barangay Mayao in Lucena City from 3 hours to just 45 minutes.

“We believe that the TR4 will further unlock the economic potential and promote tourism in Laguna, Batangas, Quezon and Bicol provinces,” said SMC president and COO Ramon Ang.

The toll road, SMC said, will be divided into six sections, namely: Sto Tomas, Batangas to Makban in Laguna (11.32 km); Makban to San Pablo City (12.75 km); San Pablo to Tiaong in Quezon (7.5 km), Tiaong to Candelaria (15 km); Candelaria to Tayabas (10.21 km) and Tayabas to Lucena (9.96 km).

SMC's South Luzon Tollway Corporation (SLTC) will operate the new toll road, which is seen boosting economic activity in the area through the faster transport and delivery of goods and services.

Ang said he eyes opening the new toll road within 36 months.

Besides the SLEX, SMC also operates the Star Tollway, Skyway, the NAIA Expressway and the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway.