Starting 6 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 15, the entire southbound lane of Roxas Boulevard will be closed to traffic to give way for a total repair of a damaged culvert in front of Libertad Pumping Station in Pasay City.
The closure covers the entire stretch of the southbound lane from HK Sun Plaza to the corner of Roxas Boulevard and EDSA.
In a virtual press briefing on Wednesday, Jan. 11, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Benhur Abalos emphasized the need for the immediate repair of the damaged box culvert, saying this would prevent future worse case scenario of major road damage along Roxas Boulevard due to cave in which may result in serious vehicular accident.
“According to DPWH, because of the structural integrity of their project, the structure might weaken,” Abalos said.
The current situation is dangerous especially that heavy trucks are regularly using the Roxas Boulevard route on the way and back to a major port in Manila.
Abalos also explained that partially closing the southbound lane is also dangerous since the culvert repair may result in road damage and may also result in serious accident and likewise compromise the safety of the workers of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH).
The decades-old culvert releases water to the Manila Bay.
'60-day challenge'
Currently, 887 cargo trucks and 1,029 trailers per day are traversing the Roxas Boulevard southbound direction alone.
Mikunug Macud, District Engineer of DPWH South Manila District Engineering Office, said the closure and repair works would last for 60-calendar days.
This means that motorists regularly plying the route must be contented with alternate routes, or travel as early as possible to avoid the expected monstrous traffic jams.
But the MMDA has laid down alternate routes for affected motorists, according to Abalos.
"Likewise, directional traffic signs will also be placed at strategic locations to better guide the public,” he said.
Engr. Neomie Recio, Director of MMDA Traffic Engineering Center, assured that the agency will deploy enforcers for traffic management in the area.
“Once closed, we will deploy additional traffic enforcers for the entire duration of the rehabilitation. We will also implement a zipper lane or counterflow scheme for light vehicles, but on a case-to-case basis,” Recio explained.
Zipper lane
The MMDA's assurance of opening of zipper lane at the northbound lane of Roxas Boulevard offers a relief but officials said the opening of a one-lane zipper lane is dependent on the traffic situation at the northbound lane.
This means that there will be no zipper lane if the northbound lane of Roxas Boulevard is also congested.
Motorists will be notified by the opening of zipper lane though the deployment of MMDA personnel in the area.
The alternate routes
_For Light Vehicles_:
• From Bonifacio Drive/Roxas Boulevard: take Roxas Blvd.-Buendia Avenue service road, turn right at Buendia Avenue Extension then left at Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard going to destination.
• From Bonifacio Drive/Roxas Boulevard: turn right at HK Sun Plaza access road then left at Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard to destination.
• From Bonifacio Drive/Roxas Boulevard: left at Pres. Quirino Avenue to destination.
For Trucks/Trailers and other vehicles from Bonifacio Drive going to Roxas Boulevard southbound:
All heavy vehicles/trucks/trailers, turn left to P. Burgos Avenue, straight towards Finance Road and Ayala Boulevard, then right to San Marcelino Street, take P. Quirino Avenue to South Luzon Expressway to destination.
Bear with us
Abalos asked for understanding from the public as the temporary closure of Roxas Boulevard southbound is necessary for safety.
“We are appealing for the public's understanding as to the inconvenience the temporary road closure would cause. But this is necessary to ensure the safety of motorists and pedestrians," he said.