MANILA — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) expects “more than the usual” heavy traffic congestion during the “ber” months due to the repairs of bridges and the increasing number of vehicles in Metro Manila.
As this developed, the MMDA announced the restoration of the Old Sta. Mesa Bridge and that repairs on the Mabini Bridge and Nagtahan flyover will start on September 15 upon clearance from the Department of Public Works and Highways.
The Old Sta. Mesa Bridge, traversed daily by more than 8,000 vehicles, will be demolished and closed for seven months to give way to the construction of the Skyway Stage 3 Project, an elevated expressway that will connect Makati City and Quezon City, according to MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia.
“The bridge along N. Domingo Street has to be demolished so that barges that will carry equipment for the Skyway 3 Project can pass the waterway,” Garcia said in a press briefing Thursday.
The MMDA will install signage on the alternate routes that motorists may use, which are F. Manalo Street or G. Araneta/Aurora Boulevard, Libiran, Boni Avenue and F. Blumentritt Avenue.
Meanwhile, re-blocking works on the Mabini Bridge and Nagtahan flyover, which involves asphalt overlay and electrical works per lane, will last for four months. Contractors will only be allowed to conduct repairs from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m. An average of 37,000 vehicles passes through the area daily.
Garcia urged motorists to plan their trips to ease traffic congestion in the metropolis due to the repairs of the two bridges.
“We expect more than the usual traffic for the Ber months kasi nga last year sabi ko nga, 450,000 ang bagong sasakyan; this year, aabot ng 500,000. Kung 30-40 percent niyan nasa Metro Manila whatsoever, basta merong additional sasakyan na naman etong taon. Every year, nadadagdagan tayo ng sasakyan, yung kalsada natin hindi naman nadadagdagan, magsasara pa tayo (We expect more than the usual traffic for the Ber months because last year we have 450,000 new vehicles; this year it will reach 500,000. If 30-40 percent whatsoever are in Metro Manila we will have more vehicles this year. Every year, we increase our vehicles but our roads are limited and we will be even closing some of them),” the MMDA official added.
“Due to the limited roads, we really need to schedule. Hindi na pwede lumabas nang sabay-sabay sa kalsada (It is not advisable that vehicles will go out of the streets at the same time),” he said.
The MMDA encourages motorists to use carpooling to lessen vehicular volume in Metro Manila.
“‘Yung carpooling natin kahit hindi lang sa EDSA pati na sa buong Metro Manila. Kunwari na iisa lang ang pupuntahan ninyo along the way, ‘yung mga kasama o kakilala ninyo magdaanan na lang kayo at mag-schedule (Carpooling must not only be done on EDSA but in the entire Metro Manila as well. For instance, if you’re going on a single destination you can plan and schedule your trips with friends along the way),” Garcia said.
The MMDA is also set to have a meeting with mall operators in October for the implementation of extended operating hours of shopping malls during the Christmas season.
The agency will continue its clearing operations of illegally parked vehicles on major thoroughfares and alternate routes, including the Mabuhay Lanes.
The MMDA will designate alternate routes as “no parking zones”, wherein vehicles will not be allowed to park during daytime.
Vehicle owners would receive citation tickets for illegal parking if they defy the 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. “no parking rule.”
Other initiatives being pursued by the MMDA to manage traffic include the high occupancy vehicle scheme and the provincial bus ban on EDSA during rush hours. (Aerol John Pateña/PNA)
