The Metro Manila Development Authority on Tuesday reprimanded the private contractor in the construction of Metro Rail Transit Line 7 for using several lanes along Elliptical Road corner North Avenue in Quezon City without prior notice which resulted in heavy traffic in the area.
MMDA general manager Jose Arturo Garcia issued a notice of violation against EEI Corp. officials who failed to coordinate with the agency when it occupied two lanes of the road for heavy equipment used in its excavation activities that troubled passing motorists.
“We were surprised about the closure of two lanes without properly informing us of the exact date of the closure. The area became a chokepoint as lanes available for the motorists narrowed,” said Garcia, who inspected the construction works Tuesday morning.
The MMDA usually issued notices and advisories to motorists ahead of time of traffic-causing construction activities in Metro Manila that would affect them.
As a remedy, Garcia ordered EEI Corp. officials to immediately install steel plates on the two affected lanes to make them passable to motorists as soon as possible.
“We also need to put lane markings —solid yellow line to prevent motorists from swerving or changing lanes and traffic signage on merging lanes and other adjustments to be made,” said Garcia.
Garcia reiterated that private contractors should inform the MMDA of changes and movements concerning their construction activities so they can prepare traffic plans ahead of time.
“We understand that the project is under the “Build, Build, Build” program of the government which would later benefit motorists but coordination is important to minimize inconvenience to motorists,” said the MMDA official.
The MRT-7 project involves the construction of a 23-kilometer railway system with 14 stations from North Avenue in Quezon City to San Jose Del Monte, Bulacan.
Once the project is completed, the road component will divert northern provincial buses operation to San Jose Del Monte, thereby decongesting Epifanio de los Santos Avenue.