MANILA, Philippines — Motorists traversing the Edsa-Kamuning flyover in Quezon City are expected to endure six months of more grueling and heavier traffic when the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) partially closes it for repairs.
At a press conference in Pasig City on Monday, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said the southbound lane of the structure would be closed to private vehicles from May 1 to Oct. 25.
READ: Edsa-Kamuning flyover set for partial closure due to construction
MMDA Chair Don Artes advised motorists to avoid the area as redecking works would take up half of the flyover’s three lanes. The lane for the Edsa Carousel busway would remain open for the duration of the repairs.
“Although the southbound lane of the Kamuning flyover will not be entirely closed, we are advising motorists, especially private vehicles, to use the Mabuhay Lanes as alternate routes to avoid heavy traffic expected due to the redecking works,” Artes said.
Preparation for strong earthquake
Brian Briones, planning section chief of the DPWH-National Capital Region, said the closure would pave the way for the 360-day retrofitting and strengthening of the flyover to prepare it for a possible strong earthquake.
Based on a study by the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the structure was among the 43 “critical” bridges in Metro Manila that could collapse if the “Big One”—a hypothetical magnitude 7.2 earthquake caused by the movement of the West Valley Fault—should hit Metro Manila.
During the partial closure of the flyover, private vehicles are advised to take the following alternate routes: from Edsa/Quezon Avenue, make a right turn to Panay Avenue; from Panay Avenue, make a left turn to Sgt. Esguerra Avenue; from Sgt. Esguerra Avenue, make a left turn to Timog Avenue; from Timog Avenue, make a right turn to Edsa Service Road; from Edsa/Quezon Avenue, make a right turn to Mo. Ignacia Avenue.
From Mo. Ignacia Avenue, make a left turn to Sgt. Esguerra Avenue; from Edsa/Quezon Avenue, make a right turn to Panay Avenue or Mo. Ignacia Avenue; from Panay Avenue or Mo. lgnacia Avenue, make a left turn to Sgt. Esguerra Avenue; from Sgt. Esguerra Avenue, continue straight to 11th Jamboree.
From Kamuning Road, take Edsa Service Road; from 11th Jamboree Avenue, make a left turn to Kamuning Road; from Edsa/Quezon Avenue, make a right turn to Eugenio Lopez Jr. Drive; from Eugenio Lopez Jr. Drive or Scout Borromeo, make a left turn to Sgt. Esguerra Avenue; from Edsa/Quezon Avenue, make a right turn to Scout Borromeo Street; from Sgt. Esguerra Avenue make a left turn to Timog Avenue.