The mystery of Kabihasnan Road: Why is it still closed?

Motorists aren’t the only ones wondering why the Kabihasnan road continues to be closed.

Even the Parañaque City government is surprised that the road has been ordered closed less than two weeks after it was opened for a "dry run."

City Engineer Raydivino Daval Santos confirmed that Kabihasnan, which serves as an alternative route for motorists from Parañaque and Las Piñas going to Manila, still can’t be used by vehicles.

"I am not sure when it was closed again," Santos said.

He expressed concern that motorists would find themselves in a dilemma if the alternative road is not opened since Quirino Highway will soon be closed to give way for repair as well as the construction of a new Don Galok-La Huerta Bridge.

However, Julius Corpuz, project engineer at the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) told The STAR in a telephone interview that the road was closed anew to give way for "work that needed to be done."

"I know there are still little things to be done after our engineers inspected the road and discovered things that have to be corrected," Corpuz said.

The TRB as the regulator, he said, is tasked to open a road upon the request of the operator, in this case, Coastal Road operator Philippine Estate Authority Tollway Corp. (PEATC).

Among the works to be done, Corpuz said, include the toll collection system that is still being tested as well as "adjusting" the road to allow passage for big trucks.

He added that the traffic management scheme to be followed when the Quirino Highway is closed has yet to be completed by the inter-agency group responsible.

Corpuz said Kabihasnan Road was opened recently "for testing purposes."

The Kabihasnan Road was re-opened last Sept. 8 during the Parañaque City Day. Parañaque Rep. Eduardo Zialcita, who had announced the opening, said there would be a two-week dry run, with the road opened to motorists from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The TRB will also impose a P5 toll for operational expenses, Zialcita said.

Corpuz said there is no "committed date" for the re-opening of Kabihasnan.

"We are working slowly but surely. The TRB wants to ensure that everything is in place, that there will be no hitches when Kabihasnan is already fully operational and open to the public for use," Corpuz explained.