Heavier traffic in July in Metro as road construction, repairs start
EXPECT heavy traffic in the second half of the year as simultaneous road constructions and repairs works will begin in parts of the metropolis, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) warned the public on Friday.
Among these projects are the North Luzon Expressway Drainage Enhancement Project along A. Bonifacio Road beginning July 1; construction of an elevated guideway for the Metro Rail Transit 7 (MRT-7) along North Avenue beginning July 2; emergency leak repair on a large mainline along Edsa-Shaw Boulevard area starting July 7 and replacement of Buendia Bridge also in July.
“We acknowledge that these projects will cause heavy traffic all-year-round but we cannot compromise the safety of the motorists. If there is an urgent need to do these road projects simultaneously, then we will give the necessary clearances,” said MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia, in a press briefing on Friday afternoon at the agency’s headquarters in Makati City.
In anticipation of the massive inconvenience that these projects would bring, the Metro Manila Council (MMC) approved a resolution, regulating the operation of provincial buses along Edsa.
Starting on July 15, all provincial buses are strictly prohibited from operating along Edsa from Pasay City until Cubao, Quezon City, both northbound and southbound, from 5 a.m. until 10 a.m. and from 4 p.m. until 9 p.m., from Monday to Friday.
“All provincial buses from the north can traverse Edsa only until Cubao while provincial buses from the south can traverse only until Pasay during morning and afternoon till late evening rush hour during weekends,” said Garcia.
Affected provincial bus terminals are exempted from the Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP) or number coding scheme. They are also allowed to use the MMDA-operated Southwest Interim Provincial Terminal (SWIPT) in Pasay City.
“We expect to reduce by 2,000 provincial buses travelling along Edsa once the regulation is implemented,” said Garcia.
Violators will be fined P2, 000.
The NLEX Drainage Enhancement Project will be undertaken at a portion of Balintawak Cloverleaf along A. Bonifacio Avenue Road from 11 pm to 4 am for 70 to 80 days. To give way for this project, the ramp of Balintawak Cloverleaf EDSA-southbound will be closed to vehicular traffic.
Motorists are advised to take the following alternate routes:
Route 1: Vehicles coming from NLEX should take Smart Connect Interchange to Mindanao Avenue to destination. Exit to Edsa Monumento-bound and make a U-Turn to Edsa Southbound.
Route 2: Vehicles coming from Monumento to A. Bonifacio Avenue should turn right to Biglang Awa Street, left at Jasmine Street, straight to 11th Avenue, turn right at A. Bonifacio Avenue to destination.
Private contractor EEI Corporation will expand its working area on North Avenue in Quezon City for the construction of an elevated guideway for the MRT-7 starting July 2.
The elevated guideway will be put up on North Avenue, from Mindanao to Veterans Hospital Gate area in the jurisdiction of Bagong Pag-asa and Project 6.
Construction will be done in two phases: from Veterans to Vertis North Gate and from Vertis North Gate of Mindanao Avenue.
Water concessionaire Manila Water will conduct an emergency leak repair on its large mainline on Edsa-Shaw Boulevard southbound area.
Pre-construction works will begin on July 7 while construction proper will be undertaken on a 24/7 schedule starting July 14 until the next 30 days.
Vehicles turning right from Edsa to Shaw Boulevard will be diverted to Starmall premises to allow southbound buses and private vehicles to use the service road exclusively.
The Department of PublicWorks and Highways (DPWH) is also set to build a stronger Buendia bridge along Buendia Avenue. The Buendia Bridge has been found with cracks and needs immediate replacement due to poor condition.
The MMDA has yet to give clearance for the construction of the new bridge that will be done in two phases. JAMES GALVEZ
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