DPWH to start Edsa-Taft flyover next month

Department of Public Works and Highways secretary Rogelio Singson. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The Department of Public Works and Highways plans to start work on two of its priority infrastructure projects in Metro Manila—the P3.03-billion Edsa-Taft Avenue flyover and the P3.74-billion repair of the 23-kilometer Edsa—in August and September, respectively.

The DPWH midterm accomplishment report,  a copy of which was furnished the Inquirer, said the projects would take at least one year and one-and-a-half years, respectively, to complete.

The detailed engineering designs of both projects were completed in April.

However, the DPWH said it was “still consulting” various agencies, including the Metropolitan Manila Council, prior to the implementation of the projects.

On April 2, President Benigno Aquino gave the green light for the construction of the flyover at the perennially traffic-choked intersection of Edsa and Taft Avenue in Pasay City. The President, however, directed the DPWH to take the necessary measures to minimize any inconvenience to motorists.

The planned flyover, 1.2 kilometers long, is designed to have two lanes in both directions on Edsa spanning the Malibay Bridge from Makati City to F.B. Harrison Street in Pasay City.

According to the DPWH, the project would help alleviate traffic congestion by providing uninterrupted traffic flow.

Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson had said that Edsa, the country’s busiest thoroughfare, would soon be as “smooth” as the North and South Luzon Expressways.

“We only have 2013 and 2014 to complete the improvements on Edsa,” he said, noting that the former Highway 54, which was completed in 1954, had been practically neglected by previous administrations. Only piecemeal repairs were done there, he pointed out.

Edsa is “proof that our road standards have really gone down. We have settled for roads full of potholes,” said Singson.

The road repairs will carried out only on weekends, he said. “It’s not true that we’re closing the entire stretch of Edsa.”

Meanwhile, funding for various infrastructure projects in Metro Manila has increased from P6.17 billion in 2011 and P8.46 billion in 2012  to P15.85 billion this year.

Aside from the construction of the Edsa-Taft  flyover and the Edsa rehabilitation work, other projects that the DPWH plans to implement include the following: Phase 1 of the Lawton Avenue-Sta. Monica bridge project, which has a budget allocation of P1.7 billion; and the Governor Forbes Street and España Vehicle Underpass with funding of P700 million.

Next year, on the DPWH list of projects include the widening of C-5 and the Bagong Ilog flyover and the construction of the Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue and Paseo de Roxas Vehicle Underpass, with project costs of P1.51 billion and P793 million, respectively.