MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is set to conduct road repairs and reblocking from August 23 (Friday) to August 27 (Tuesday), the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) announced.

In an advisory, the MMDA said the road repair will start at 11 p.m. in the following roads.

SOUTHBOUND:

• EDSA cor. Bulacan St. to Philam (1st lane from center island)
• EDSA from Magallanes – Baclaran Bus Stop to Magallanes – Alabang Bus Stop (outer lane)
• EDSA Eugenio Lopez – Sct. Borromeo (desilting and construction of manhole)
• Katipunan Ave. from after Boni Serrano Tunnel to P. Tuazon St. (truck lane)
• Quezon City along EDSA Southbound between West Avenue and Philam Village (restoration/concreting works)

EASTBOUND:

• Quirino Highway Theresa Heights and before Belfast (inner lane)
• Elliptical Rd before Commonwealth Ave. (7th lane from outer sidewalk)

WESTBOUND

• Novaliches General Luis before Oriental Tin

NORTHBOUND:

• EDSA Main Ave. to P. Tuazon (1st lane from sidewalk)
• C-5 Road C.P Garcia Bridge approach B
• Taguig City fronting Palar Village 245 M before KM 17+000

Motorists are advised to avoid the said areas and use alternate routes instead.Affected roads will be fully passable by 5 a.m. on Tuesday, August 27, the MMDA said.

MANILA, Philippines – The westbound portion of Marcos Bridge in Marikina City will be closed to motorists beginning August 26 (Monday), the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) announced on Thursday.

MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia said the portion of the bridge will be closed to the public at 12 noon on Monday for repair and rehabilitation works that will last for four months.

Motorists are advised to take the following alternate routes:

CUBAO TO ANTIPOLO ROUTE:

• From Cubao, take Aurora Blvd., then right turn to Katipunan Ave., take Service Road of Libis Underpass, left turn to Boni Serrano and take FVR Road straight to Macapagal Bridge then Marcos Highway to Antipolo;

• From Cubao, right turn to 15th Avenue then left turn to Boni Serrano, take FVR Road straight to Macapagal Bridge then Marcos Highway to Antipolo.

TRUCKS FROM CUBAO TO ANTIPOLO ROUTE:

• From Cubao, take Aurora Blvd., then right turn to Katipunan Ave., take service road of Libis Underpass, left turn to Boni Serrano, straight to FVR Road, take Macapagal Bridge then Sumulong Highway to Antipolo.

ANTIPOLO TO CUBAO ROUTES:

• From Antipolo, take Sumulong Highway, then A. Bonifacio Avenue, straight ahead Aurora Blvd., to Cubao;

• From Antipolo, take Marcos Highway and right turn to Fernando Avenue, then take A. Bonifacio Ave. straight ahead Aurora Blvd. to Cubao;

• From Antipolo, take Marcos Highway, take down ramp to Marcos Bridge Service Rd., then FVR Rd., straight ahead right turn to Katipunan Ave., left turn to Aurora Blvd., straight ahead to Cubao;

• From Antipolo, take Marcos Highway then FVR Rd., straight ahead take Boni Serrano Ave., then right turn to 20th Ave., left turn to Aurora Blvd., to Cubao.

TRUCKS FROM ANTIPOLO TO CUBAO ROUTE:

• From Antipolo, take Marcos Highway then FVR Rd. straight ahead, right turn to Katipunan Ave., left turn to Aurora Blvd. straight ahead to Cubao

Meanwhile, the eastbound part of the bridge, which was closed last May, is now open to vehicular traffic.

“After less than three months of repair, motorists going to Antipolo can now utilize the eastbound portion of the bridge,” Garcia said.

He also said that zipper lane will be implemented on the eastbound side for those going out of Marikina due to larger volume of vehicles especially during rush hours.

The Quezon City Task Force for Transport and Traffic Management has launched ‘Bayanihan sa Lansangan’ which will dispatch more buses in Commonwealth Avenue.

Aside from the severe traffic, there are also not enough buses for an estimated 30,000 – 40,000 commuters in the area.

Rene Hanolino, one of the commuters, said he spends time just waiting for a bus ride every morning.

“Mga 15 minutes, pinakamatagal na sa akin iyon, pag-aabang. Kasi talagang madami namang pasahero. Tiyaga lang naman (Around 15 minutes, that is the longest time I’ve waited because there are a lot of passengers. It takes patience),” he said.

During the first day of the implementation on Tuesday (Aug 20), authorities directed the passengers to where they should wait for buses.

Traffic czar of Quezon City Task Force For Transport And Traffic Management Ariel Inton said the heavy crowd of passengers waiting for a ride have begun to block the roads.

“Sa dami nila, bumabara sa mga private vehicles. Iyong mga bus naman, sinasalubong nila kasi dumadating dito iyong mga bus, punuan na (Because of their sheer number, they block the private vehicles. Other passengers try to get ahead by catching the bus before it reaches the stop, so its already full by the time it gets there ),” he said.

Inton added that the ‘Bayanihan sa Lansangan’ will be able to provide enough buses for passengers.—AAC (with reports from Asher Cadapan Jr.)