Heavy traffic looms due to Sucat bridge repairs

MANILA, Philippines–Motorists are advised to brace themselves for heavy traffic in Parañaque City as the 45-day repair and rehabilitation of the Sucat Interchange Bridge start this weekend.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on Tuesday said it would be closing the eastbound lane of the bridge starting Saturday until Sept. 15.

In a letter to Parañaque Mayor Edwin Olivarez, DPWH district engineer Wilfredo Mallari said the agency would also conduct a dry run Tuesday and close the eastbound lane of the bridge from Dr. A. Santos Avenue to the Muntinlupa side.

The bridge repair and road closure are expected to affect the entire stretch of A. Santos (Sucat Road) as well as the East and West service roads of the South Luzon Expressway in both Parañaque and Muntinlupa.

In a statement, Olivarez said the city’s Traffic Management Office would also study and propose alternative routes for motorists and commuters who would be affected by the repairs.

“We will also look into the possibility of imposing a truck ban and a color-coding scheme to reduce traffic volume in the affected routes and ease the burden of our commuters and motorists for the duration of the bridge repair,” the mayor added.

Olivarez said the DPWH and the traffic management personnel of the Skyway Operations and Maintenance Corp., which has jurisdiction over the affected interchange, should be able to finish the bridge repair within the allotted time frame.

The city government is expected to issue further advisories regarding the alternative routes before the weekend.–Maricar Brizuela