Shanties on Arellano Blvd bug traffic rerouting plan

The plan to detour traffic from T. Padilla Extension to Arellano Boulevard, starting May 15 when the bridge at the corner of T. Padilla and McArthur Streets will be rehabilitated, now faces a problem.

Squatters'' shanties have occupied part of Arellano Boulevard and made it narrower and harder for motorists to pass through, The FREEMAN found this out after inspecting the area yesterday.

Arellano Boulevard is a two-way road but motorists could hardly pass through it, particularly near the Coast Guard headquarters, because of the shanties that occupied half of it, even its center island.

This matter was discussed in part during the City Council''s last session in relation to the rerouting of motorists going to the Port Area to solve the expected increase of traffic volume when rehabilitation of the bridge starts.

The Department of Public Works and Highways has allocated P12 million for the rehabilitation of the narrow bridge at the corner of McArthur and T. Padilla Streets.

The bridge should be rehabilitated in anticipation of the rise in traffic volume through this area when the construction of the underpass from the South Road Properties is completed.

District engineer Nicomedes Leonor also recommended that, when the bridge rehabilitation starts this Tuesday, vehicles going to Plaza Independencia from the north would make a detour to the corner of M.J. Cuenco Avenue and T. Padilla Street.

Some drivers however suggested that those coming from the north should be allowed to turn left to T. Padilla Extension, upon reaching corner T. Padilla and McArthur Streets, then turn right to Arellano Boulevard.

This in turn posed a problem because of the situation in Arellano Boulevard. The drivers countered that the City Hall''s Squatters Prevention Encroachment Elimination Division should remove these obstacles first to make the boulevard a viable way. - Rene U. Borromeo/RAE