In September 2026, transportation advocates warned that the proposed SALEX expressway could worsen traffic congestion, public health, and heritage loss in Metro Manila. The warning follows the clearing of hundreds of trees along Quirino Avenue and documented tree-cutting and earthballing along Roxas Boulevard. This matters to Quezon City residents because SALEX is part of a larger Metro Manila expressway network that could reshape daily commutes and air quality across the region. The controversy also raises questions about whether infrastructure projects should come at the cost of heritage landmarks and green spaces. SALEX is a proposed 40.62-kilometer mixed elevated viaduct and shoreline expressway divided into four sections: C3-R10 Extension, Shoreline Expressway, Quirino Extension, and Buendia Extension. The Quirino Avenue segment would span 3.97 kilometers with four elevated lanes, and authorities say 617 trees are affected, though not all will be cut.
Background
SALEX, or the Southern Access Link, is being developed by SMC Infrastructure as a tollway project intended to improve access to southern Metro Manila. The project has drawn growing opposition after tree-clearing along Quirino Avenue and Roxas Boulevard, with heritage groups warning that more than 50 Manila landmarks could be threatened. Critics are calling for sustainable alternatives and preservation efforts.
Source: Rappler