THE Metro Manila Development Authority on Friday advised commuters and motorists to brace for traffic gridlock in some parts of Manila and Quezon City this weekend due to road repairs to be conducted by the Department of Public Works and Highways.
In its advisory, the MMDA said the DPWH-National Capital Region Office and its contractor would undertake the road reblocking and repairs beginning 11 p.m. (May 18) at the following areas:
In Quezon City:
• 2nd southbound lane of Epifanio de los Santos Avenue from Arayat Street to P. Tuazon Street.
• southbound lane of Visayas Avenue in front of People’s Television Network Station (PTV-4), and southbound 3rd lane of Edsa-Eugenio Lopez Street after Scout Borromeo.
• 2nd northbound lane of Edsa in front of Vertis North to Trinoma Shopping Mall.
• Northbound inner lane of Quirino Highway from T. Carreon Street to Pagkabuhay Road.
• Northbound outer lane of Andres Bonifacio Avenue from Mayon Street to Mauban Street, and
• 3rd northbound lane of Congressional Avenue in front of Business Bank to Mindanao Avenue, and
In Manila:
• Northbound lane of España Boulevard going to Quiapo in front of Don Quijote Street before Arsenio H. Lacson Avenue.
The MMDA advised the public to avoid the areas and use alternate routes instead.
The agency assured that all affected roads will be fully passable by 5 a.m. on Monday, May 21.
The DPWH resumed their operations after MMDA Chairman Danilo Lim gave the agency a go signal to proceed with the road works.
At present, the government is implementing a policy prohibiting diggings and other road works at daytime.
The ban of road works at daytime came following the MMDA meeting with officials of the departments of Transportation, and Public Works and Highways to further improve the flow of traffic in the metropolis.
Under the policy, road repairs and rehabilitations on major thoroughfares must be done by contractors around 10 p.m. to make sure that the road will be passable to motorists by 5 a.m. the next day.
To do this, the government agencies will be requiring contractors to use quick dry cement on the road works to be able to meet the one-day curing period.
Also under the new guidelines, the DPWH will be responsible in preparing the traffic management plan of the road projects, and the plan will be reviewed by the MMDA.
