Magallanes Interchange repair set to start on Friday

MANILA, Philippines - Should the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) finally agree on the work schedule, the repair and rehabilitation of the 39-year old Magallanes Interchange will start on Friday night.

MMDA Chair Francis Tolentino, in a meeting with DPWH officials at his office requested on Wednesday that a compressed work schedule be submitted to his agency by Thursday.

Tolentino requested for the compressed work schedule after DPWH officials informed him that the project would now take eight months to complete as the work will be done in five stages and the repair will only be done from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m.

The DPWH intends to retrofit, repair and replace the asphalt overlay on the four-level partial turbine interchange in Makati City that serves as the junction between the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) and EDSA.

Following the proposal of then President Ferdinand Marcos in 1969 to create six circumferential roads, the Magallanes Interchange was opened in 1975 to extend EDSA to Roxas Boulevard.

According to the DPWH, Stage 1 (Manila to SLEX) would take 45 days to complete, Stage 2 (Cubao to Roxas Boulevard) 75 days, Stage 3 (SLEX to Cubao/Munumento) 30 days, Stage 4 (Cubao to Manila/SLEX) 30 days and Stage 5 (Roxas Boulevard to Monumento) 60 days.

Tolentino reminded the DPWH that construction equipment should be removed from the construction area by 5 a.m. or these will be towed away by the MMDA.

In addition, Tolentino also requested that the DPWH install the needed safety equipment at the work site to include safety railings, downspouts and fire escape ladders.

The DPWH in turn, assured the MMDA that they would help direct traffic in the affected portions of the interchange by fielding 30 flagmen.

The repair of the Magallanes Interchange would include the replacement of railings, steel expansion joints, retrofitting against earthquakes and replacement of the asphalt overlay on its decks.

It would be recalled that the DPWH had earlier failed to convince the MMDA to allow it to start the repair of the interchange last March 22. 

DPWH-NCR director Reynaldo Tagudando earlier said the last retrofit of the Magallanes Interchange was done in the 1980s.

Tagudando said there is damage on the carriageways, disintegration of concrete and damage on the guide rails and steel expansion joints of the interchange, All of these need immediate repair, said Tagudando as these place the safety of the motorists using it at risk.