MMDA opens Airport Road to 2-way traffic

MANILA, Philippines - The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Friday  opened the Airport Road in Pasay City to two-way traffic in preparation for the construction of the EDSA-Taft flyover in August.

According to the MMDA, the construction of the flyover would affect the cities of Parañaque and Pasay with the expected congestion of traffic in these areas.

“Two lanes will be for vehicles going to Roxas Boulevard, while the other two lanes will be for vehicles going to Andrews Avenue,” MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino said.

The new traffic scheme is the result of a consultation meeting under the Metro Traffic Watch program held last week with representatives from the MMDA Traffic Engineering Center (TEC), transport organizations from the area, and traffic bureau chiefs of Pasay and Parañaque.

MMDA TEC Director Neomie Recio said traffic signals are already in place to control the intersections in affected roads.  Appropriate signs were also put up since last week to inform the public of the new traffic scheme.

Tolentino meanwhile appealed to the local governments of Paranaque and Pasay cities to help the MMDA implement the traffic scheme smoothly by removing all illegaly parked vehicles along Domestic Road.

“I am urging the concerned local government units, particularly the barangay officials, to remove all illegally-parked vehicles and other forms of obstruction along Domestic Road to facilitate a smooth flow of vehicular traffic,” Tolentino said.
  
The P2.7-billion EDSA-Taft flyover will start in front of the Heritage Hotel and ends near the Malibay Bridge.  Its construction by the Department of Public Works and Highways is expected to be completed in just 15 months. - Mike Frialde with Pauline Tome and Trish Lameyra