LRT-MRT loop construction to start in May

Actual construction work on the P6.3-billion Light Rail Transit-Metro Rail Transit (LRT-MRT) loop project could start as early as this May, the LRT Authority (LRTA) said yesterday.

LRTA administrator Melquiades Robles said they have already wrapped up the pre-qualification of groups that will join the public bidding for the contract.

The rail agency had successfully conducted the pre-qualification of bidders for the project’s Package C, with the joint venture of DMCI and First Balfour being the lone pre-qualified bidder last Wednesday.

The DMCI-First Balfour joint venture was also the lone prequalified bidder for the project’s Package A1.

For Package A2, the pre-qualified bidders are DMCI-First Balfour joint venture, F.F. Cruz-Filsystems joint venture, and the Cavite Ideal International Resources group.

For Package B, the pre-qualified bidders are DMCI-First Balfour, and the F.F. Cruz-Filsystems joint venture.

Robles said the bidding proper for Package A1 was set on March 19, Package A2 on March 20, Package B on March 21 and Package C on April 1.

After the bidding, Robles said that construction work on Package A1, A2, and B could start by May and work on Package C could start by June.

The project’s Package A involves the foundation and viaduct construction component and Package B involves the station construction. Package C involves the electro-mechanical components of the rail line extension project.

The LRTA seeks to complete the LRT-LRT loop project – which will connect LRT Line 1 at its Monumento Avenue end-station in Caloocan City with the MRT at its end station in North Avenue, Quezon City through the construction of three stations along EDSA – by April 2010. – Rainier Allan Ronda