By Darryl John Esguerra | Philippine News Agency
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said Wednesday that key transport and traffic agencies are coordinating to craft protocols and a traffic management plan in anticipation of major road works along the Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA), one of Metro Manila’s busiest thoroughfares.
In a press briefing in Malacañang, DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan said preparations are underway to minimize public inconvenience once the EDSA rehabilitation starts mid-June. “I’m sure that there will be some inconvenience to some extent actually because we will be occupying some spaces along EDSA as we do the rehabilitation work.”
According to Bonoan, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Department of Transportation (DOTr) are working closely to finalize a comprehensive traffic scheme, including alternative routes and lane reassignments during the construction phase.
“I think MMDA and DOTr are actually having the protocols and the traffic management plan laid out already… They’re looking at what alternate routes are available and how to manage the internal traffic in EDSA during construction,” the DPWH chief said.
Bonoan noted that one of the proposals being considered is “to arrange with the concessionaires of the Skyway” to allow the temporary use of parts of Skyway Stage 3 by regular EDSA motorists once rehabilitation works begin.
Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon earlier said the Toll Regulatory Board will ask San Miguel Corp. to waive toll on parts of the Skyway during the rehabilitation of EDSA.
In addition, the MMDA is exploring dedicated lane separations to ensure smoother traffic flow.
The government is eyeing to finish the first phase of the project next year in time for the Philippines’ hosting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit.
