Enforcers deployed as Magallanes Interchange southbound reopens

MANILA, Philippines - The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will deploy additional traffic enforcers at the Magallanes Interchange as it’s south-bound lane was re-opened to light vehicles on Monday.

At 5 a.m., the south-bound lane of the interchange going to the Southern Luzon Expressway (NLEX) from Manila was reopened for use by light vehicles.

The MMDA said the additional traffic enforcers will make sure that only light vehicles will be allowed to use the south-bound lane of the Interchange and ensure a smooth traffic flow.

The south-bound lane of the interchange was closed to traffic from August 9 to August 17 as part of the Magallanes Interchange Rehabilitation Project of the Department of Pubic Works and Highways.

The DPWH rehabilitation project involves the repair and strengthening of structural components of the flyover including asphalting activities to improve road pavement surface.

Public Works and Higways Secretary Rogelio Singson earlier said that the repair of the Interchange is being implemented on work stages as allowed by the MMDA as the flyover structure is one of the major arteries of Metro Manila.

Singson instructed the DPWH National Capital Region Office to ensure maximum utilization of equipment to speed up work and avoid delays considering that the secured road repair clearance from MMDA for the project is valid only up to February 28, 2015, and with other upgrading activities done strictly only between 11:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. on weekdays.

The total project length of 1,809.50 lineal meters (l.m.) includes 301.60 l.m. Manila to Alabang, 345.95 l.m. Ayala to Roxas Boulevard, 410.35 l.m. Alabang to Ayala, 405.65 l.m. Ayala to Manila/Alabang, and 345.95 l.m. Roxas Boulevard to Ayala.

The Magallanes Interchange Project with an allocation of P167 million involve asphalt overlay of the third-level flyover (along EDSA) and second-level Interchange from abutment to abutment, repair of the expansion joints, strengthening/retrofitting of the deck slab (soffit) of the second-level Interchange and the inner lane of the third-level flyover (Pasay Bound).

According to the MMDA, trucks and other heavy vehicles shall only be allowed to pass the newly-repaired portion of the Magallanes Interchange on August 20, Wednesday.

"We do not want early deterioration of repaired road because of overloading which may have damaging effects on the interchange," MMDA Traffic Engineering Center (TEC) director Noemi Recio said.

Recio said by not allowing heavy vehicles to use the south-bound lane of the interchange, the asphalt overlay will be given enough time for curing.

For the meantime, the MMDA said heavy vehicles will still have to use the service road.

Meanwhile, MMDA Assistant General Manager for Operations, Emerson Carlos said that traffic flow on the Interchange will normalize once the south-bound lane of the Magallanes Interchange is fully opened for all types of vehicles. The MMDA has even installed a traffic light in the area to help regulate the heavy flow of traffic, Carlos said.

“Sa Wednesday, normal na. Iaaasahan natin na pag nabuksan na ito, medyo mababawasan ang traffic. Although hindi naman ganun katindi ang nangyari, naglagay pa rin kami ng traffic light doon. Kapag hindi namin ginagawa yun, baka yung traffic umabot na haggang Quirino Avenue,” said Carlos.