MMDA asks DPWH to present traffic management plan before EDSA rehab

EDSA (Wikipedia photo)

MANILA — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Sunday asked the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to submit first traffic management plan before pushing the rehabilitation of Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA).

During the agency’s weekly radio program, MMDA Assistant General Manager for Operations Emerson Carlos said the DPWH should first submit its traffic management and should also conduct consultation with the stakeholders who will be affected by the EDSA rehabilitation before they will allow the rehabilitation to proceed.

“Before we issue permit for the EDSA rehabilitation, the DPWH should present its traffic management plan and alternate routes as well as should hold consultations,” he told the agency’s weekly radio program.

The MMDA has the final say on the issuance of permits for government road projects in Metro Manila.

Carlos said the MMDA will not oppose such project of DPWH as long as the latter submits the traffic plan to them.

The DPWH’s planned major rehabilitation of EDSA has been put on hold due to, among others, traffic-related issues raised by the MMDA.

He cited the traffic management plan submitted by DPWH when it rehabilitated Dario Bridge along EDSA in Quezon City.

“We want to use that as a model, because of the DPWH’s traffic management plan, the traffic was not affected by the repair,” he added.

Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson earlier said that the major rehabilitation of the 23-kilometer EDSA would be completed before the end of President Benigno Aquino 3rd’s term in June 2016.

Singson said one of these road rehabilitation technologies is the high-grade polymer modified bitumen, or PMB asphalt from Singapore.

According to Reynaldo Tagudando, director of the DPWH office in the National Capital Region (NCR), they had completed the Detailed Engineering Design, or DED of the EDSA project as early as April 2013.

For his part, MMDA Road Safety Unit Engr. Emilio Llavor said the rehabilitation of EDSA is not a simple maintenance repair thus, the DPWH should present the project to the agency.

Madami tayong icoconsider na mga utilities kagaya ng manholes ng NAWASA at PLDT ay kailangan mo din i-raise yan or else pag naiwan yan nakalubog sa pavement ay it will cause accident. Dapat pag usapan muna, layout muna nila sa amin para maayos,” Llavor noted.