It then curves as it crosses Magsaysay Boulevard, its current southern terminus, and beneath the viaduct of LRTA's Line 2 system.

The original plan of the project was that the alignment would have passed above the Magsaysay Flyover and the LRT Line 2 (LRT-2).

However, due to the right of way issues pending on the 1-kilometer (0.62 mi) spur of Skyway Stage 3, the awarding of the construction contract to a Chinese company, and revisions, the alignment would later be modified to include the ramps leading to Magsaysay Boulevard and Santa Mesa.

The revisions included the plan for the structures to pass under the LRT-2 viaduct while the Magsaysay Flyover was dismantled during construction.

The R-10A alignment that would connect C-3 to Tutuban through the Philippine National Railways right-of-way was also included in the plan.

[8][9][10] During the latter part of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo's presidency, Metro Pacific Tollways Development Corporation (MPTDC) later offered an unsolicited proposal to build the highway,[11] also known as the NLEX–SLEX Skyway Connector.

[13] It was originally to run from Circumferential Road 3 in Caloocan to Gil Puyat Avenue in Makati, with a total length of 13 kilometers.

However, the southern end was later transferred to Santa Mesa, Manila, as the right-of-way of the Santa Mesa–Buendia alignment is held by Skyway Stage 3 of the rival Citra Central Expressway Corporation (now SMC Skyway Stage 3 Corporation).

[14] In January 2014, a joint venture was signed between Metro Pacific and the Philippine National Construction Corporation (PNCC),[15] and the project was still known as Segment 10.2.

[24] The elevated expressway was originally intended to have two interchanges, but during construction, additional ramps in Santa Mesa were included.

[25] The expressway was opened toll-free, pending the approval of rates by the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB).