DPWH 24-hr road works allowed until next week

THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said Friday that road reblocking and repairs to be undertaken by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will be allowed round-theclock until next week.

MMDA acting chairman Atty. Romando Artes said that the agency only allowed road works by the DPWH starting today, Friday, until either April 10 or 11, if April 10 would be declared as holiday.

“We will only allow DPWH to conduct 24-hour road repairs, which they commit to finish on time and implement properly in the same manner as they implemented it during last Holy Week’s road repairs,” Artes said.

Areas up for repairs include: Tandang Sora Avenue Quezon City (from Commonwealth Avenue going C-5); Bonny Serrano Avenue Quezon City (corners of 15th Ave. and 20th Ave.); EDSA Northbound Mandaluyong (Apo Street to Pioneer St., outermost lane; beside sidewalk); EDSA Southbound Mandaluyong (after Gate 4 to EDSA Shrine); Roxas Boulevard Northbound Pasay (between Lourdes St. & Vicente Sotto St.); Roxas Boulevard Northbound Manila (between Remedios St. and Pasaje del Carmen St.); Roxas Boulevard EDSA Flyover Southbound Pasay (bridge approach, outer and inner lane); IBP-San Mateo Road Quezon City (fronting Robinson Easymart to Jollibee, 1st lane from center).

Also included were Luzon Avenue Southbound Quezon City (Congressional Ave. Extension to before Luzon Flyover, 1st lane from center); Mindanao Avenue Northbound Quezon City (Uno Fuel to Chinabank, truck lane); Payatas Road Quezon City bound to Batasan Road (before Maynilad Pumping Station to G3 Center, outer lane); Payatas Road Quezon City bound to Batasan Road (Batasan Rd. to Bayanihan St./Samar St. to Leyte St., outer lane); G. Araneta Avenue Quezon City (Wayan St. to Mauban St., 1st lane from sidewalk); and Payatas Road Quezon City (Singko St. to Samar St., inner lane).

Artes also said that allowing only DPWH to conduct road repairs was a result of the unfinished road works of private contractors last Holy Week.

“We have penalized the two contractors of a telecommunications company who were unable to comply with the deadline set for road works during the Lenten break. They will be fined P1.260 million,” Artes said.

Meanwhile, the MMDA also assured the public that necessary traffic management will be implemented as soon as the DPWH commences with its retrofitting of EDSA Kamuning Flyover Southbound.

Artes said that Mabuhay Lanes will be used as alternate routes amid the repairs of the flyover, which is set to start on April 25 and will last for 11 months.

“We will coordinate with the Quezon City local government unit, DPWH, Quezon City Police District, Highway Patrol Group, and the barangay to manage the traffic. We will divert the traffic so that motorists could avoid the certain portion that will be subject to redecking,” he said.

Artes emphasized that the retrofitting of the Kamuning Flyover is necessary to avoid further damage and be structurally sound and ready in case of disasters such as earthquakes.

“The re-decking of the flyover cannot be deferred. We assure the public that we will manage the traffic in such a way that the impact of the repair is minimal to the motorists.”

He also said that leading to the start and during the repair of the flyover, the agency will intensify clearing operations in areas within the vicinity.

“This is to make sure that roads serving as alternate routes are clear and obstruction-free to minimize the effects of the repairs in traffic.”