MANILA — San Miguel Corp.’s infrastructure unit has opened the northbound exit of the Quezon Avenue extension at Skyway Stage 3 in Quezon City, the company said Saturday.

The Maria Clara exit opened at 6 a.m. on Saturday and is expected to help ease traffic over the long weekend ahead of the new year.

“This exit has been long-awaited by our motorists in Quezon City, who now have a convenient alternative,” SMC Chairman and CEO Ramon Ang said in a release.

Use of the Quezon Avenue extension exit has the same toll rate as using the Quezon Avenue northbound exit.

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“We are grateful to the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) for their support and close coordination with our operations team to open the Maria Clara exit for the benefit of the motoring public,” Ang added.

The TRB has issued an interim permit for use of the exit, saying there is an “immediate need to provide an alternative route and reduce congestion at the Quezon Avenue northbound exit.”

Ang said SMC Infra is working to meet the remaining requirements for a full permit from the TRB.

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“Meanwhile, we are deploying patrollers and road safety personnel to guide motorists using the new exit,” he said.

Skyway Stage 3 connects the Skyway System from Gil Puyat in Makati to Balintawak in Quezon City and the Northern Luzon Expressway.