SLEX signage improvement ideas between Alabang and Buendia
With the continued works on the Metro Manila Skyway between Susana Heights and Balintawak, the older South Luzon Expressway deserves some attention too (serving both as a feeder route and a parallel alternate to the Skyway from the Alabang area north to the Makati/Manila city limit).
Though much of the section southward from Alabang to STAR Tollway has exit numbers and modern signage, the older portion from Alabang to Pasay Road (Arnaiz Avenue) in Makati lacks exit numbers and in some cases, even minimal ramp signage.
Because of the existence of the Buendia Flyover, and the expressway-like setup of Osmena Highway (South Superhighway) from there to EDSA, these signage and exit numbering sketches includes the Makati segment of Osmena.
Exit numbers projected for this hypothetical set are based on the existing set (where Alabang/South Station is Exit 20 and Filinvest is Exit 23), measured from the Rizal Monument at Luneta.
(Note that in my hypothetical Metro Manila Skyway exit numbering, I base it on the southern terminus of the road in Susana Heights - similar to how American roads use exit numbers based on southern or western terminus as opposed to an arbitrary destination that the road does not reach.)
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NORTHBOUND FROM ALABANG TO BUENDIA
Kilometer marker 20 (2 kilometers north of southbound Alabang/South Station exit)
38 kilometers/23.61 miles north of STAR Tollway
17 kilometers/10.56 miles south of Quirino Avenue
Next-three-exits sign. No control city listed for C-5 in order to save space.
Exit 18, Sucat (A. Santos Avenue)
40 kilometers/24.85 miles north of STAR Tollway
15 kilometers/9.32 miles south of Quirino Avenue
One of two exits in the Paranaque area, the Sucat diamond interchange dates to the earliest days of the expressway, though it has been significantly expanded in the era of electronic toll collection.
Because the right two lanes both point towards the Sucat exit, went with a setup where the rightmost lane gets an "ONLY" labeling (similar to California exit style).
Like with Skyway, given the importance of both cities, Makati and Manila really work best as double controls (even if this increases message loading slightly). Even more so since SLEX never makes it to Manila before becoming a conventional boulevard (and expressway access to Manila requires switching up to Skyway at some point).
Kilometer marker 16
42 kilometers/26.1 miles north of STAR Tollway
13 kilometers/8.08 miles south of Quirino Avenue
Next two exits listed: Bicutan and C-5. Minimalist look without control cities for C-5.
Exit 14, Bicutan
43 kilometers/26.72 miles north of STAR Tollway
12 kilometers/7.46 miles south of Quirino Avenue
NOTE: the Skyway onramp here accepts traffic for both eastbound and westbound traffic in the mornings (6 AM to 9 AM)
and drivers are advised they can reach Skyway westbound normally via the U-turn slot on Dona Soledad, then the eastbound-to-northbound cloverleaf.
In comparison, the Sucat flyovers to Skyway are direct feeds into the through lanes (SB to WB, EB to NB) so they do not work as well for general access to Skyway like the Bicutan junction does.
Kilometer marker 13
44 kilometers/27.34 miles north of STAR Tollway
11 kilometers/6.84 miles south of Quirino Avenue
Fort Bonifacio now as destination for C-5. In theory Ortigas could be added too, but really depends on which part of that district one is going to (as well as trying to keep message loading from becoming too severe).
Exit 11, C-5 (to Bonifacio Global City)
46 kilometers/28.58 miles north of STAR Tollway
9 kilometers/5.59 miles south of Quirino Avenue
Both right lanes split off to go to C-5 northbound. First mention of NAIA, for the Sales junction. (The geography of C-5 and of Dona Soledad Avenue means there's no SLEX northbound access to C-5 south, so getting to the Merville district of Paranaque from SLEX isn't all that obvious for now.)
Exit 9, Sales Road (to NAIA and to Lawton Avenue/Bonifacio Global City)
48 kilometers/29.83 miles north of STAR Tollway
7 kilometers/4.35 miles south of Quirino Avenue
With the Magallanes Interchange getting closer, the exit to EDSA also gets to be mentioned for the first time here. Simple right lane ramp split to the Sales folded diamond.
VERSION 2 of this sign adds mention of Ayala from the EDSA exit (as this is a bit more direct than Don Bosco) and Skyway so that drivers already know they can eventually continue on an expressway route to Balintawak (as opposed to taking EDSA). Left Cubao out as there are circumstances where the Skyway (to Quezon Avenue) is the much better route there than using EDSA through Greenhills/Ortigas area.
A minimalist variant of above.
Kilometer 8 (Sales overpass)
48.5 kilometers/30.14 miles north of STAR Tollway
6.5 kilometers/4.04 miles south of Quirino Avenue
The current "Pasay/Manila/Cubao" sign set. This revamp makes it much more clear that the left and right lanes are exits to EDSA, while continuing straight is SLEX.
Exit 7B, EDSA East to Ayala/Ortigas
50 kilometers/31.07 miles north of STAR Tollway
5 kilometers/3.11 miles south of Quirino Avenue
Manila now sole SLEX control city as Magallanes district is in Makati city limits. Left two lanes continue along SLEX, right two lanes both go towards EDSA east.
Exit 7A, EDSA West to Bay City (to Mall of Asia, Roxas Boulevard, Baclaran)
50.5 kilometers/31.38 miles north of STAR Tollway
4.5 kilometers/2.8 miles south of Quirino Avenue
An awkward merge here at the Magallanes interchange, essentially of the EB EDSA to NB SLEX and NB SLEX to WB EDSA ramps.
Minimalist version excludes the control city.
Semi-minimalist with EDSA retaining control city signage.
After the EDSA westbound ramp connects to the northbound carriageway, the road has transitioned from SLEX to Osmena Highway.
Exit 6, Don Bosco Street (to Pasong Tamo, A. Arnaiz Avenue, Amorsolo Street)
51 kilometers/31.69 miles north of STAR Tollway
4 kilometers/2.49 miles south of Quirino Avenue
Right turn here to the Makati CBD (and indirectly to Greenbelt).
Chose to list Pasong Tamo (which is also listed off of EDSA westbound) as that is the major street Don Bosco connects to first, and Arnaiz Avenue due to the fact the segment of Arnaiz that intersects Osmena no longer provides eastbound access towards Greenbelt.
Kilometer 5.5 (just north of A. Arnaiz Avenue)
52 kilometers/32.31 miles north of STAR Tollway
3 kilometers/1.86 miles south of Quirino Avenue
First mention of the final two exits of the pseudo-expressway portion of Osmena, approaching the Buendia Flyover. Added Dela Rosa to the Buendia exit listing as that street intersects the ramp first.
San Andres as Osmena control city for local traffic, while through traffic to other parts of Manila is highly encouraged to get on the Skyway.
Exit 5, Buendia (Gil Puyat Avenue)/Dela Rosa Street (to Poblacion, Ayala North, Pasay, Manila Zoo, Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, Bay City)
52.5 kilometers/32.62 miles north of STAR Tollway
2.5 kilometers/1.55 miles south of Quirino Avenue
Variation 1 lists both Buendia and Dela Rosa, while providing control destinations for Skyway and Osmena.
Variation 2 offers a minimalist look for as little message loading as possible.
Exit 4, Skyway (Buendia onramp) (to Manila, Quezon City, Caloocan, NLEX)
53 kilometers/32.93 miles north of STAR Tollway
2 kilometers/1.24 miles south of Quirino Avenue
Right two lanes continues on to the Skyway, while the three left lanes lead to local street access for Osmena. Added Malate as a control destination since portions of it are easier to reach via Osmena, rather than using Skyway to Quirino Avenue (which is better for portions of Ermita).
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SOUTHBOUND FROM BUENDIA TO ALABANG
Exit 5A, Buendia (Gil Puyat Avenue) (to Makati CBD/Ayala, Poblacion, Bonifacio Global City via Kalayaan, Bay City, Rizal Memorial Sports Complex, Roxas Boulevard)
53 kilometers/32.93 miles north of STAR Tollway
2 kilometers/1.24 miles south of Quirino Avenue
The Buendia Flyover was for years the northernmost grade separation on the SLEX/Osmena corridor, before Skyway Stage 3 was extended to the Paco district in Manila in 2019.
As a result, in terms of merging it's actually safer for drivers reaching Skyway from San Andres and Malate to just exit at Buendia and drive past Buendia Avenue itself to ready themselves for the Skyway onramp.
With the current closure of the SLEX southbound to EDSA eastbound ramp at Magallanes, this is the only direct current access to the Ayala district and Makati CBD from southbound Osmena.
Exit 5B, Skyway south (to NAIAX, Alabang, Calamba) (near Faraday Street turnoff)
52 kilometers/32.31 miles north of STAR Tollway
3 kilometers/1.86 miles south of Quirino Avenue
One of only two southbound Skyway access points in Makati (second one is in Magallanes). As noted above, using the Buendia Flyover along Osmena to reach this requires an aggressive merge, though that doesn't stop drivers here.
Intentionally added NAIAX as a destination as this route is significantly more free-flowing than using SLEX to Sales Road.
Exit 7A, service road
51 kilometers/31.69 miles north of STAR Tollway
4 kilometers/2.49 miles south of Quirino Avenue
After the A. Arnaiz Avenue stoplight (only movement there is to make a right turn to head west to Pasay), the Magallanes interchange complex is not far behind. No real need to provide much advance signage for the slip ramp to the frontage road.
First listing of the ramps to EDSA. (Note that this is the only access point to EDSA for southbound Skyway drivers as well!)
Magallanes/Alabang control cities here, in part because SLEX has several turnoffs in the Magallanes district.
Exit 7B, EDSA West (to NAIA/Baclaran via Tramo, Bay City, Roxas Boulevard, Mall of Asia) (near A. Bonifacio Street)
50.5 kilometers/31.38 miles north of STAR Tollway
4.5 kilometers/2.8 miles south of Quirino Avenue
While my northbound concept lists Bay City as the control for this ramp, southbound I've chose NAIA & Baclaran (to emphasize access to the Tramo Flyover) in part to encourage drivers to use Buendia to get to the Roxas area, instead of taking Osmena the full 2km south to here - or to use NAIAX to reach the southern parts of Bay City.
Exit 7C, EDSA East - currently closed (to Ayala, Bonifacio Global City via Kalayaan Avenue)
50 kilometers/31.07 miles north of STAR Tollway
5 kilometers/3.11 miles south of Quirino Avenue
Ramp closed since April 1, 2019 to alleviate merge issues with the ramp from westbound EDSA to southbound SLEX. Not sure if this will be reopened.
Exit 7D, San Gregorio Street to EDSA east
49.5 kilometers/30.76 miles north of STAR Tollway
5.5 kilometers/3.42 miles south of Quirino Avenue
The first of two access points into the Magallanes district, this is currently used (indirectly) as a connection to EDSA eastbound. Useful primarily if one's destination is on EDSA itself between Magallanes and Kalayaan Avenue, as opposed to Guadalupe or Ayala (each best accessed via Buendia) or any of the further northeast destinations like Ortigas or Cubao.
First mention of the second and final ramp to Skyway southbound. Chose to add Bay City here specifically to encourage usage of Skyway to NAIAX instead of EDSA.
Exit 8A, Magallanes Avenue turnoff
49 kilometers/30.45 miles north of STAR Tollway
6 kilometers/3.73 miles south of Quirino Avenue
Not really a true exit, but a key right-on/right-off junction with the Shell station that handles both Easytrip and Autosweep RFID tag installation.
Exit 8B - Service Road/PhilSCA
Exit 8C - Skyway to NAIAX (to Bay City, Bacoor via CAVITEX, Baclaran, Alabang, Calamba)
48.5 kilometers/30.14 miles north of STAR Tollway
6.5 kilometers/4.0.4 miles south of Quirino Avenue
The short feeder ramp to the right allows drivers to reach the Philippine State College of Aeronautics without having to backtrack from the Sales Road exit. This is also the final access point to the Skyway from SLEX.
At this exit, my idea is for a Sales Road/NAIA sign to also be added. Where this is useful: since Skyway currently has a ban on non-Class 1 vehicles, heavier vehicles still need to know to get to NAIA the older way.
Exit 9B, Sales Road (to NAIA)
48 kilometers/29.83 miles north of STAR Tollway
7 kilometers/4.35 miles south of Quirino Avenue
Exit 9A, Lawton Avenue (to BGC)
47.75 kilometers/29.67 miles north of STAR Tollway
7.25 kilometers/4.5 miles south of Quirino Avenue
The separate ramps for NAIA and for Lawton are noted here.
First signage for the upcoming C-5 exit, with Bacoor intentionally listed as a destination due to the C-5 terminus at CAVITEX just north of the Cavite/Metro Manila border.
Exit 11, C-5/Merville (to Las Pinas, Bacoor)
47 kilometers/29.2 miles north of STAR Tollway
8 kilometers/4.97 miles south of Quirino Avenue
Current config has the rightmost lane to C-5, and the 4th lane as a truck-specific lane for the upcoming toll plaza.
Toll Plaza alert signs up here. Truck route to CAVITEX.
Kilometer 12
46 kilometers/28.58 miles north of STAR Tollway
9 kilometers/5.59 miles south of Quirino Avenue
Signage for the upcoming Bicutan and Sucat exits. Control cities now Alabang and Calamba.
Exit 14, Bicutan (Dona Soledad Avenue)
44 kilometers/27.34 miles north of STAR Tollway
11 kilometers/6.84 miles south of Quirino Avenue
Two through lanes, one option lane, and one exit-only lane for cash users. Added ETC and CASH markings to let drivers know which toll exit lane is optimal depending on what they have.
Kilometer 16
42 kilometers/26.1 miles north of STAR Tollway
13 kilometers/8.08 miles south of Quirino Avenue
Two kilometers away from the Sucat exit. First mention of the Alabang ramp, with the southbound control cities now Calamba (SLEX terminus for now) and Batangas (STAR Tollway terminus).
Exit 18, Sucat (A. Santos Avenue)
40 kilometers/24.85 miles north of STAR Tollway
15 kilometers/9.32 miles south of Quirino Avenue
Current configuration has the rightmost lane as an Exit Only for cash users, and then the second lane as an option lane for those with the RFID tags.
Exit 22, South Station/Alabang
36 kilometers/22.37 miles north of STAR Tollway
19 kilometers/11.81 miles south of Quirino Avenue
The first of two Alabang exits for SLEX southbound, this ramp shoots off from the third lane (with no exit-only).
Exit 23, Filinvest
35 kilometers/21.75 miles north of STAR Tollway
20 kilometers/12.43 miles south of Quirino Avenue
The southern exit for the Alabang district, this trumpet interchange serves Festival Supermall and as of early 2021 is the first signed numbered exit southbound so far. Signage for the Muntinlupa-Cavite Expressway/Susana Heights exit begins here.
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