Sales Interchange

Sales Interchange
Nichols Interchange
The Sales Interchange in 2014, looking north from the South Luzon Expressway. Picture taken from an Airbus A320.
Map
Location
Barangay 183, Pasay and Western Bicutan, Taguig, Metro Manila, Philippines
Coordinates14°31′27.6″N 121°1′32.7″E / 14.524333°N 121.025750°E / 14.524333; 121.025750
Roads at
junction		Lower interchange:
AH 26 (E2) (South Luzon Expressway)
N192 (Sales Road)
Lawton Avenue
West Service Road
East Service Road

Upper interchange:
AH 26 (E2) (Skyway)
E6 (NAIA Expressway)
Construction
TypeFour-level hybrid partial cloverleaf (lower) and Directional T (upper) interchange
ConstructedUpper interchange:
2004–2009 by the Department of Public Works and Highways
OpenedLower interchange:
Early 1970s

Upper interchange:
May 30, 2009 (2009-05-30)
Maintained byDepartment of Public Works and Highways
Skyway Operations and Maintenance Corporation

The Sales Interchange (Tagalog: [ˈsalɛs]), also known as the Nichols Interchange, is a hybrid interchange at the boundary of Pasay and Taguig in Metro Manila, Philippines. It is composed of a lower partial cloverleaf interchange serving as the junction between the South Luzon Expressway, Sales Road, Lawton Avenue, West Service Road and East Service Road and an upper Directional T serving as the junction between the Skyway and the NAIA Expressway.[1]

The interchange was opened in two segments, with the lower interchange being built in the early 1970s. Rehabilitation work on the lower interchange was last undertaken in 2012 with the reconfiguration of an off-ramp to improve access to Ninoy Aquino International Airport and the strengthening of the Sales Bridge[2] brought about by the number of vehicles using the interchange.[3] Although the rehabilitation was scheduled to be completed by August 13, 2012,[4] it was ultimately finished in February 2013.[5]

Construction of the upper interchange was recommended in the Metro Manila Urban Transportation Integration Study (MMUTIS), commissioned by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in 1999, as a solution to worsening traffic congestion into and out of the airport.[6] However, no provisions for its construction were made when the Metro Manila Skyway was being built. On July 17, 2001, President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo and her Cabinet approved the construction of the NAIA Expressway, funded through a Japanese loan package,[7] and construction of the upper interchange began on March 17, 2004.[8] The ₱1 billion interchange, which was built in four parts, was inaugurated by President Arroyo and other officials on May 30, 2009.[9]

The Sales Interchange is the last exit in the toll-free section of the South Luzon Expressway, although this is true only for the lower interchange. The upper interchange was free of charge until November 16, 2011, when tolls began to be collected by Citra Metro Manila Tollways Corporation (CMMTC), the concessionaire of the Skyway system.[10]

  1. ^ "Road and Bridge Inventory". Department of Public Works and Highways. Retrieved February 26, 2021.
  2. ^ Guzman, Jell E. (January 1, 2012). "DPWH sets P60.38M for rehab of Villamor Bridge". Philippine Information Agency. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  3. ^ "DPWH issues traffic advisory for Sales Bridge repair" (Press release). Department of Public Works and Highways. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  4. ^ "SALES (SLEX) BRIDGE REHABILITATION PROJECT" (PDF). Department of Public Works and Highways. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  5. ^ Gamil, Jaymee T. (February 26, 2013). "Sales Bridge rehab over but pipe works set". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inc. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  6. ^ "Metro Manila Urban Transportation Integration Study (MMUTIS) Final Report" (PDF). Japan International Cooperation Agency. 1999. p. III 10–24. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  7. ^ Villanueva, Marichu A. (July 18, 2001). "GMA okays P68-B projects under 25th Yen package". The Philippine Star. PhilStar Daily, Inc. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  8. ^ Chavez, Chito A. (March 17, 2004). "Construction of NAIA project starts today". Manila Bulletin. Manila Bulletin Publishing Corporation. Archived from the original on September 10, 2016. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  9. ^ Sy, Marvin (May 31, 2009). "GMA inaugurates airport interchange". The Philippine Star. PhilStar Daily, Inc. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  10. ^ "Drivers using Skyway NAIA must pay toll". Philippine Daily Inquirer. Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inc. November 9, 2011. Retrieved July 14, 2016.