Rizal Avenue reopened to vehicular traffic

Two weeks ahead of schedule, Manila Mayor Alfredo Lim led yesterday the re-opening of a 530-meter portion of Rizal Avenue, a major thoroughfare, that has been closed to vehicular traffic for the past four years.

At exactly 10 a.m., Lim and Vice Mayor Francisco Domagoso (more popularly known as Isko Moreno) led city officials, residents and vendors in the area in passing through the stretch of Rizal Avenue from Carriedo Street to Claro M. Recto Avenue.

The crowd cheered and ran behind the vehicles that cruised along Rizal Avenue during the ceremonial opening. Lim, Domagoso and District 3 Rep. Naida Angping were seen in one of the passenger vehicles. They got off when they reached Recto Avenue.

At Recto Avenue, Lim, a retired police general, directed the flow of vehicular traffic but his presence created more problems as his police escorts, residents and journalists tried to stay close to him.

Lim’s first act upon assuming office last July 1 was to order the re-opening of Rizal Avenue, of the city’s 13 major thoroughfares.

He lauded City Engineering Office (CEO) chief Armand Andres for beating the deadline. The CEO was originally given a month to complete the project, but Lim gave them new instructions to finish the job by July 15.

About 200 personnel worked non-stop 16 hours daily just to comply with Lim’s orders. “About 80 to 90 percent of the bricks removed from the Rizal Avenue were not destroyed so they could be reused in improvement of parks and sidewalks,” Andres said.

In his brief speech, the 77-year-old mayor said this was in response to the clamor of motorists, the passengers and vendors who complained of heavy traffic around the area. – Evelyn Macairan