Skyway extension project mishap causes traffic jam; 5 vehicles damaged

MANILA, Philippines - A bridge girder launcher working on the 1.6-kilometer long NAIA (Ninoy Aquno International Airport) Expressway in Pasay City, broke loose and fell on five vehicles passing underneath.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority's (MMDA) Metrobase said that the accident happened at about 3:32 p.m.

A bridge girder launcher is an equipment that helps put prefabricated precast girders on prefabricated piers. It lifts the precast girder slabs, transports them to specific location and drops them using a crane.

Damaged were a Mazda sedan ( AAQ-2450), a Toyota Revo (WMA- -973), a mini closed van (YES-753), a Mitsubishi Montero sports utility vehicle (PQD-617) and a Ford Ranger pickup (AAY-1715).

The MMDA’s Road Emergency Unit which rushed to the scene said nobody was injured or killed in the incident along the south-bound lane of Tramo Road near Andrews Avenue.

As of 4:43 p.m., vehicles got trapped in a traffic jam as the west-bound lane of Tramo Road was totally closed to traffic. Also closed to traffic said the MMDA’s Metrobase was the EDSA-Tramo flyover to Andrews Avenue.

The NAIA Expressway is a 1.6-kilometer elevated expressway project of the Department of Public Works and Highways that runs from the Metro Manila Skyway to Andrews Avenue near the NAIA Terminal 3. The elevated expressway project is divided into four packages and is touted as the first airport expressway in the country. Construction of the project began last January 2.

MMDA deputy general manager for operations Emerson Carlos sid they have deployed heavy equipment to remove the girder from the scene.

Carlos said the owners of the damaged vehicles may ask for compensation from the contractor of the project. He added that the incident will be probed by the DPWH as it is their project.