By Christopher Lloyd T. Caliwan
MANILA, Feb. 17 (PNA) – The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) released Monday the list of alternate routes for private vehicles as motorists and commuters brace for a traffic gridlock beginning Monday night due to the construction of the Skyway 3 project.
In an press conference held at the MMDA Headquarters in Makati City, MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino said that some 132,000 vehicles that pass the Osmena highway per day will be affected with the closure of the two southbound lanes and that the average speed of 32-39 kilometer per hour (kph) will be reduced to 10-19 kph.
The two lanes between San Andres and Zobel Roxas in Osmeña Highway will be closed while the three lanes will be open to motorists.
Tolentino said motorists are advised to avoid the affected roads and use alternate routes.
He said vehicles taking President Quirino Avenue, turn left at Roxas Boulevard, right at Senator Gil Puyat Avenue, left at Macapagal Boulevard to point of destination;
Along President Quirino Avenue, turn left A. Mabini, straight to F.B. Harrison, right at EDSA, to point of destination;
Along President Quirino Avenue, left at Leon Guinto, straight to P. Zamora to destination;
Along Pedro Gil, turn right Tejeron, right at Don Chino Roces Avenue to point of destination;
Along Pedro Gil, turn right at Onyx, left at Zobel Roxas, right at Kalayaan Avenue, right at Don Chino Roces Avenue to destination; and,
Along Pedro Gil, turn right at Teheron St., straight to JP Rizal to Makati Avenue to destination.
Skyway3, which is a 6-lane (2×3 lanes) fully elevated expressway with a length of 14.8 kilometers, will connect South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) to North Luzon Expressway (NLEX).
Aside from the Skyway3, the construction of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Expressway Phase 2, a four-lane elevated expressway from Sales Road to Macapagal Avenue in the cities of Pasay and Parañaque, has started.
With these projects , at least 23 school will be affected, Tolentino said.
Tolentino also said to reduce the traffic gridlock, the project contractors were also complied with the recommendations of the agency such as to provide at least 50 traffic enforcers in each site to lessen the inconveniences of motorists during the construction; to work on their projects 24/7; and to provide tow trucks for clearing operations on their construction work.
He added that the traffic enforcers have undergone training on traffic management at the MMDA Traffic Academy.
The MMDA Chief also said that motorists who are caught in traffic put the blame on the agency and not on the contractors.
He explained that the agency assign traffic enforcers to assist them but traffic management should not be put solely on the MMDA.
”Ito po ay project ng ibat ibang ahensya; tayo po ay tumutulong lang mag coordinate dito para maibsan yung problema sa trapiko. Meron tayo yung www.mmbroadway.com nakalagay lahat dun ng pangalan na dapat tawagan,” he said.
MMDA on Friday launched the roadway project website — www.mmroadway.com — during a two-day Metro Manila Traffic Management Summit at the Asian Institute of Management in Makati City.
The website aims to inform the public of the traffic situation as well as provide a status update of 15 major infrastructure road projects that will be implemented simultaneously this year, said Tolentino.
“Tamang info ng contractor regarding the project status, ilalagay yung mobile number, email (address) at ng spokesperson ng contractor. Pipilitin na magkaroon ng road application within the next two days,” the MMDA chief explained.
The website will contain information on the various projects, two of which, the Skyway 3 project and the NAIA Expressway Phase 2 will start on Monday at 10 p.m.
“The site will contain the status of the project, detail the alternate routes to be taken by motorists and will also have a chat board where motorists can post messages or complaints about the project,” said Tolentino.
He said the website will post an update on the project status twice a week, and will also include a chat room to answer queries.
“So makikita ng public yung alternate routes dun sa www.mmroadways.com and active na ito. ‘Yung queries (public), may mga numbers kung sino yung tatawagan, so coordinated yan,” he added.
Apart from the traffic situation, the MMDA chief also stressed the importance of keeping the project sites safe for pedestrians and convenient to motorists by providing alternate routes.
“This should be well communicated to the public. You (contractors) need to provide safe walkways and alternative routes,” he said.
Unless important, Tolentino suggested that Metro Manila residents should limit their movements within their respective localities, and plan their travel efficiently as these will redound to lesser volume of vehicles and pedestrians in the streets. (PNA)