Fallen crane no more. Coast is clear on SLEX

MANILA, Philippines – A Skyway official said Thursday that the southbound lane of the South Luzon Expressway in Sucat area has been fully opened to motorists.

Ed Nepomuceno, Skway’s head of special projects and operations, said that a large part of the collapsed crane on Sucat-SLEx’s southbound lane was pulled out on Wednesday night and the remaining part was cleared around 7 a.m..

“Nabuksan na ang southbound lane, totally 3 lanes na,” Nepomuceno announced over radio dzMM.

He added that as of Thursday morning, traffic was very light in the area.

An ABS-CBN News report said that the Skyway management had to close the whole southbound lane of SLEx-Sucat around 5 a.m. while its workers were pulling out the remaining part of the collapsed crane.

The huge structure collapsed at the height of tropical storm Basyang (international name Conson) before dawn Wednesday.

The obstruction caused heavy traffic along SLEx. Motorists had to go around through Sucat toll exit and the Sucat interchange to avoid the fallen crane.

Nepomuceno said the Skyway management is meeting its general contractor on Thursday to avoid the same incident. – with a report from Jeck Batallones, ABS-CBN News