The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority will impose a three-week moratorium on road diggings and excavations in major streets in the metropolis starting Dec. 14, in anticipation of the traffic buildup during the Yuletide season.
During Tuesday’s Metro Manila Council meeting, MMDA Traffic Engineering Center Director Noemi Recio said that the temporary stoppage of road works will begin on the midnight of Dec. 14, 2015 up to the midnight of Jan. 3, 2016.
“No reblocking. Aside from this, a moratorium on road works and repairs will be implemented effective Dec. 14 to Jan. 3,” she said, adding that the moratorium covers road diggings of power and water utilities as well.
Recio cited the numerous road projects by the Department of Public Works and Highways, totaling 146 all around Metro Manila.
“If we can stop these projects, we are hopeful that traffic in the Metro Manila would not be that heavy and would somehow ease the burden of shoppers during the holiday rush,” she told the MMC, the policy-making body of the MMDA composed of the 17 local government units.
Recio, however, pointed out that there would be exemptions to the moratorium including the flagship projects of the national government such as the said Ninoy Aquino International Airport Expressway project and the Skyway project 3 road works that do not obstruct or block vehicular traffic. PNA
The six-lane expressway connecting the North Luzon Expressway and South Luzon Expressway will stretch 14.2 kilometers from Buendia in Makati City to Balintawak in Quezon City to decongest Edsa and other major roads, including Quezon Ave., Araneta Ave., Nagtahan, and Quirino Avenue.
The Naia Expressway Phase 2 project from Sales Road in Pasay City to Macapagal Avenue in Parañaque City involves a 7.75-kilometer, four-lane elevated expressway and a 2.22-km feeder road to Terminals 1, 2, and 3 and link the airport to the Skyway and the Manila-Cavite Toll Expressway.
Recio said MMDA would fine any private contractor of the LGU that would violate the moratorium.
“Aside from stopping the excavation, the MMDA will also direct the violators to patch up the diggings so that motorists could use them,” Recio said.
