Camarines Sur traffic easing as Andaya Highway reopens

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said it has reopened sections of Andaya Highway over the weekend to ease the monstrous traffic congestion suffered by motorists in Camarines Sur and Camarines Norte since last week.

In a post on the official DPWH Region V-Bicol Facebook page, the agency said that three sections of the highway was opened last Saturday and one remaining section was set for opening within the day yesterday.

“We would like to inform the public that, in Andaya Highway, we already opened the three sections last night to a two-way traffic. The remaining one will be opened today, either this morning or in the afternoon,” the DPWH said yesterday.

“In Daang Maharlika Highway at Labo, Camarines Norte, we already opened it at 5:57 p.m. yesterday to a one-way traffic,” it added.

Heavy traffic jams occurred last week in the Sipocot-Ragay-Lupi section of the Andaya Highway as a result of the conduct of rehabilitation work conducted by the DPWH on a long stretch to address concerns of a road collapse, due to damage sustained during past heavy rains and floods weeks ago.

The monumental traffic gridlock has been the subject of numerous complaints of motorists and commuters last week, with many recounting having to wait five to eight hours before being able to move past traffic.