MMDA to allow 24-hour road works by DPWH until April 11

MANILA, Philippines — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) announced road reblocking and repairs by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) until next week.

MMDA acting chairperson Don Artes said this during a press conference on Thursday, with their agency only allowing the said roadworks starting Friday until April 10 or 11, depending if next Wednesday will be declared as a holiday.

"We will only allow DPWH to conduct 24-hour road repairs which they commit to finish on time and implement properly in the same manner as they implemented it during last Holy Week’s road repairs," explained Artes on Thursday.

Among the affected areas subject to repairs are the following:

Artes said that only the DPWH will be allowed to conduct road repairs in the coming days after private contractors left some of theirs unfinished last Holy Week.

"We have penalized the two contractors of a telecommunications company who were unable to comply with the deadline set for road works during the Lenten break. They will be fined P1.260 million," he said.

The MMDA likewise assured the public that necessary traffic management will be implemented as soon as the DPWH starts with its retrofitting along EDSA Kamuning Flyover Southbound.

Mabuhay Lanes will also be used as alternate routes during the repair of the flyover starting April 25. The project is said to last for almost a whole year.

"We will coordinate with the Quezon City local government unit, DPWH, Quezon City Police District, Highway Patrol Group, and the barangay to manage the traffic," the MMDA said.

"We will divert the traffic so that motorists could avoid the certain portion that will be subject to re-decking."

The retrofitting, according to Artes, is necessary to avoid further damage and to ensure that it's "structurally sound and ready" in case of disasters like earthquakes.

MMDA will likewise "intensify" its clearing operations in areas within the vicinity to ensure that alternate routes are obstruction-free, in hopes of minimizing the repair's effect in traffic.