Pasay traffic expected to worsen

With Phase II-A of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) Expressway Project ongoing and Phase II-B scheduled to begin next month, the Pasay government appealed to motorists for more patience and understanding.

According to Mayor Antonino Calixto, the city government has deployed additional traffic enforcers as part of measures to relieve heavy traffic flow once    both projects are underway.

“We appeal to our commuters to be more patient [because] after the completion of the project, we will be spending less time on the road and thus, increasing productivity in the long run,” he said.

The mayor defended the major infrastructure projects, saying that while these would heavily affect traffic in the city, they would “definitely bring forth more progress and development in Pasay City as more visitors and tourists would be able to travel in a shorter span of time.”

Pasay spokesperson Jona-than Malaya said the Pasay Traffic and Parking Management Office headed by Arturo Fortaleza has deployed at least 10 additional traffic enforcers to areas affected by construction work.

These are Sales Street, Sales Circle, Barangay (village)183, R. Higgins Street, Gate 2-Andrews Avenue, Aurora-Andrews Avenues, Domestic Airport Road-Andrews Avenue and in front of the domestic airport.

They will augment the traffic constables of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority.

The Naia Expressway Project aims to connect Terminals 1, 2 and 3 as well as link the airport directly to Skyway and  Manila-Cavite Expressway (Cavitex) in Parañaque City.

The Department of Public Works and Highways has started constructing Phase II-A from Macapagal Boulevard to Naia Terminals 1 and 2 with the completion date targeted in March 2015.

On the other hand, Phase II-B which will connect the Domestic Airport Road to Naia Terminal 3 will start on April 17.

With the completion of both projects, several streets adjoining the cities of Pasay and Parañaque will be widened to ease traffic flow. These include Andrews Avenue, Macapagal Boulevard, Naia Road, Coastal Road-Cavitex and Imelda Avenue in front of Naia Terminal 1.