The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) yesterday said roads and bridges would be opened to prevent traffic jams during the holidays.
MMDA said the bridge and road projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) were nearing completion.
The Otis Bridge in Paco, Manila, which was closed in June for repairs, is expected to open on December 15.
The Concordia South Bridge in Paco, which was closed in May also for repairs, has been opened.
The Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge, which connects Mandaluyong City and Makati’s Rockwell area, will remain open until January.
Meanwhile, the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) Harbour Link from McArthur Highway in Valenzuela City to C3 Road in Caloocan City would also be opened early December.
DPWH National Capital Region chief Melvin Navarro earlier informed the MMDA that the 10-kilometre long Laguna Lake Highway from Bicutan to Taguig would be completed before the year ends. The DPWH also announced that the C5 extension up to Coastal Road in Bacoor City, Cavite and the Mindanao Avenue Extension going to General Luis in Valenzuela City would open anytime soon. MMDA General Manager Jose Arturo Garcia Jr said the opening of the bridges would help ease the “worst traffic” to hit Metro Manila. The agency had earlier warned motorists to prepare for carmageddon because of the closure of key bridges.
MMDA officials are scheduled to sit down with shopping mall operators on Wednesday to discuss measures on alleviating the expected heavy traffic during the holiday season.
The agency would ask mall operators to start operating at 11am instead of 10am to help minimise traffic, particularly along EDSA.
“We really need to schedule everything because everyone can’t be on the road all at once,” he said.