THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is rolling out a traffic rerouting plan for areas affected by the construction of the Skyway Stage 3 inside the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX).
During a press conference on Feb. 8, MMDA officials announced that the traffic plan will be implemented starting 11 p.m. on Feb. 9, Saturday.
“We are appealing for the patience and understanding of the public, but we are also assuring them that MMDA, NLEX, and Skyway teams will exert all efforts to minimize travel delays despite the ongoing construction,” Jose Arturo S. Garcia, Jr., general manager of MMDA, said in a statement.
The rerouting is needed to avoid delays in the construction of the Skyway which is meant to serve as a substitute for the overloaded EDSA. Generally, the re-routing will affect traffic in Balintawak Cloverleaf, Camachile, and Bagong Barrio, as well as the east and west service roads.
Those coming from NLEX going to Quezon City may use the existing Smart Connect Interchange going to Mindanao Ave.
Private cars, vans, and public utility jeepneys (PUJ) coming from Quirino Highway heading towards EDSA through Camachile will now have to pass by the Camachile Flyover, turn right to the west service road, and then right again to EDSA. PUJs should make a U-turn at Biglang Awa, then turn right at Cloverleaf to A. Bonifacio going to Blumentritt, or take the southeast loop to go back to Novaliches.
Trucks from Quirino highway bound to A. Bonifacio and trucks from Congressional going to A. Bonifacio/Port Area shall now take Mindanao Ave., then turn left to NLEX Mindanao heading to the Smart Connect Interchange going to NLEX southbound.
For private cars and vans from EDSA Muñoz going to the Port Area, they should head to Monumento, crossing Balintawak Cloverleaf, turn left at De Jesus St., then go straight to the C3 intersection. From there, they should turn right to the Port Area.
The middle lanes along NLEX Balintawak will be closed, as well as the ramp from EDSA northbound to A. Bonifacio, but lanes will be added to maintain the four lanes along NLEX.
A number of areas shall all be cleared of any obstructions like illegally parked vehicles and stalls along the road, since they will serve as alternate routes. These are A. Bonifacio (south bound), BWK southwest ramp (St. Joseph), BWK southeast ramp, the terminal at the southeast ramp, the west service road, and Progreso St., Bagong Barrio,
Mr. Garcia noted that around 33,000 south-bound motorists passing this area will be affected by the rerouting. This traffic plan will be implemented until December when the project is targeted to be completed.
On the part of San Miguel Corp., whose Citra Central Expressway Corp. is undertaking the project, Alex T. Solomon, deputy project manager for Skyway Stage 3, said that the company is very optimistic that it will be completed by the end of the year.
“Yes, optimistic kami [we are optimistic]. We’ll finish it by [the end of] 2019,” Mr. Solomon told reporters after the press conference.
“Nagdagdag kami ng mga tao ngayon [We have added manpower] to augment the completion… Siguro naman kung may [If there will be a] delay, one, two, three months in 2020,” he said. — Bamba Galang

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