The advisory was posted on Twitter, but “not everyone has access to Twitter,” said Muntinlupa Traffic Management Bureau chief Danidon Nolasco, who said they were “caught (by) surprise” by Skyway’s closure of the Alabang-Zapote ramp at certain times of the day from Monday to Saturday, starting Dec. 9.
“They did not give us any document or tell us through any formal channel that they would close the ramp,” Nolasco said, adding that they only learned of the closure through Skyway’s social media post.Hourslong gridlock
The lack of notice, Nolasco said, led to hourslong gridlock on the southbound lanes of both Skyway and the South Luzon Expressway (SLEx) as vehicles got stuck in Alabang.The traffic was worsened by the removal of a temporary toll plaza on East Service Road on Dec. 7, prompting SLEx-bound motorists to instead take the farther Sucat toll plaza.But traffic has since been “better,” after a meeting on Tuesday between EEI Corp. and San Miguel Corp. (SMC) Tollways, the operator of Skyway and SLEx, Nolasco said.
Private firms should inform them of traffic and road closure changes on SLEx and Skyway, he added.
More traffic enforcers
Nolasco also asked SMC Tollways to add more traffic enforcers within 1 kilometer of the construction area.
He said the city government will meet on Dec. 18 with Skyway, EEI, transport groups, affected residents and firms.
SMC president Ramon Ang had vowed that SLEx traffic would be back to normal by Dec. 1 with the opening of a new ramp on the Alabang viaduct and the reopening of the third lane of SLEx.