MANILA, Aug. 17 (PNA) — The southbound part of the Magallanes Interchange will be open on Monday morning but only for light vehicles, an official of Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said on Sunday.
During the agency’s radio weekly program, Noemi Recio, MMDA Traffic Engineering Center head, said the 39-year old Magallanes Interchange will be open for light vehicles at 5 a.m. Monday.
Asked why only for light vehicles, she said the newly repaired portion of the Magallanes Interchange needs ample time for the curing period.
“We do not want early deterioration of repaired road because of overloading which may have damaging effects on the interchange. Kasi hinhiihintay ng DPWH macure at mapagtigas muna yung nilatag nilang simento at aspalto para mas matibay. Light vehicles muna for two days,” Recio explained.
The MMDA official said that for the trucks and other heavy vehicles shall be allowed to pass the newly-repaired portion on August 20, Wednesday at 5 a.m.
She added that for the meantime, heavy vehicles will remain using the service road.
“Sa Wednesday, normal na. Inaasahan natin kapag nabuksan na ito, medyo mababawasan ang traffic,” she said.
The 10-day closure of the southbound Magallanes Flyover along South Super Highway from Manila to Alabang was in line with the ongoing rehabilitation of the Magallanes Interchange.
The DPWH intends to retrofit, repair and replace the asphalt overlay on the four-level partial turbine interchange in Makati City that serves as the junction between the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) and EDSA.
The repair of the Magallanes Interchange would include the replacement of railings, steel expansion joints, retrofitting against earthquakes and replacement of the asphalt overlay on its decks.
DPWH-NCR director Reynaldo Tagudando earlier said the last retrofit of the Magallanes Interchange was done in the 1980s.
Following the proposal of then President Marcos in 1969 to create six circumferential roads, the Magallanes Interchange was opened in 1975 to extend EDSA to Roxas Boulevard. (PNA)