Avoid EDSA during ASEAN Summit: MMDA

FILE: EDSA
(Photo by Patrickroque01 at English Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0)edsa

MANILA — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) reminded motorists to avoid passing through the Epifanio de los Santos Ave. (EDSA) and other major thoroughfares in Metro Manila during the 31st Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit.

The MMDA has designated the two innermost lanes of EDSA as ASEAN lanes for world leaders who would be travelling from Clark International Airport in Pampanga to the summit venues in Manila and Pasay.

Emmanuel Miro, head of operations of the MMDA Task Force ASEAN, said on Friday plastic barriers will be installed along the entire stretch of the thoroughfare from Balintawak to Magallanes to delineate the ASEAN lanes from November 11 to 15.

Vehicles are not allowed to traverse the ASEAN lanes except when the meetings are already ongoing or there is heavy traffic in the area.

Furthermore, a “stop and go” traffic scheme will be implemented along EDSA to give way to the convoys of delegates participating in the summit.

“The entire stretch will be closed for 5 to 20 minutes to give way to the convoy that will pass through,” Miro said.

The southbound ASEAN lane will be closed to traffic from Nov. 11 to 13 while the northbound ASEAN lane will be closed from November 13 to 15.

Motorists are advised to use alternative routes, such as the Mabuhay Lanes and C-5, to avoid heavy traffic during the summit.

“The public may also spend their vacation outside Metro Manila to avoid the traffic congestion,” Miro added.

The public is also reminded that a lockdown will be implemented in the following areas: partial lockdown of CCP Complex in Pasay City from 12:01 a.m. on Nov. 8 onwards; SMX-MAAX Block in Pasay City on Nov. 11 from 10 p.m. onwards; complete lockdown of CCP Complex on Nov. 12 from 12:01 a.m. onwards; Roxas Blvd. from Padre Burgos Ave. to Buendia on Nov. 13 from 12:01 a.m. onwards.

All trucks and closed vans will also not be allowed to traverse along SCTEX/NLEX from Clark to Balintawak and along EDSA from Balintawak to Magallanes from November 11 to 15.

The agency will deploy about 3,480 personnel to enforce the implementation of the “stop and go” scheme and to manage traffic in other parts of Metro Manila starting November 9 to 15.

This will be reinforced by more than 200 personnel from the Philippine National Police (PNP).

The MMDA is also considering implementing the suspension of the number coding scheme on Nov. 13 to 15, which were proclaimed special nonworking holidays in the National Capital Region and the provinces of Bulacan and Pampanga to further ease traffic in the metropolis.

A night time convoy dry run will likewise be held on Nov. 8 from 1 a.m. to 4 a.m. to ensure seamless coordination of traffic management plans for the travel of delegates attending the summit.

The affected routes for the dry run are: Clark Complex in Pampanga; along SCTEX from Clark to NLEX; along NLEX from SCTEX to Balintawak; along EDSA from Balintawak to Magallanes; along Diokno from Entertainment City to Buendia; along Ayala Ave. from EDSA to Makati Ave.; along Makati Ave. from Ayala to Pasay Road; along Pasay Road from EDSA to Amorsolo; along Lawton from 5th Ave. to 30th Ave. and along McKinley Road from EDSA to 15th Ave.

The MMDA has earlier stated that the areas of Clark Complex, SCTEX, NLEX, EDSA, Roxas Blvd., Diokno Blvd., CCP Complex, Ayala Ave., Makati Ave., Pasay Road, Lawton, 5th Ave. and McKinley Road will be affected during the country’s hosting of the summit on November 11-15. (PNA)