The city government of Makati has drawn up a traffic management plan for the next 12 months to ease road congestion caused by the Skyway Stage 3 project, especially for motorists passing through Osmeña Highway going to the city’s central business district (CBD) or to neighboring Manila.
One lane each on the north and southbound directions of Osmeña have been closed for the initial phase of the construction which started Feb. 17, although actual work was being done from 11 p.m. to 5 a.m., seven days a week.
Citing the results of consultations with the contractor Citra and other stakeholders, City Hall on Wednesday said the following regulations and rerouting schemes will take effect once construction goes into full swing:
Since the Buendia Skyway exit ramp will be closed, light private vehicles (with gross weight of not more than 4,500 kilos) going to Manila (northbound) must take the exit ramps at Don Bosco or Arnaiz.
From Skyway going to the CBD, exit at Don Bosco off-ramp and take Don Bosco Street, then Chino Roces to destination; or continue driving northward along Osmeña, turn right at Dela Rosa Street and cross Chino Roces toward Ayala area; or go straight along Osmeña, cross Buendia and turn right to Malugay toward Ayala Avenue.
If coming from South Luzon Expressway (SLEx), private motorists may also take the C-5/ Kalayaan Avenue route.
For southbound light private vehicles: If going to the CBD from Osmeña, turn left at Zobel Roxas, right to Kamagong, and right to Ayala Avenue Extension. Motorists may also pass through Osmeña and turn left to Malugay or Buendia to destination.
To bypass the work site between P. Ocampo and Buendia, motorists may turn right to P. Ocampo, left at Filmore or Dian or Bautista, head south, cross Buendia, then turn left to Edison, left again at Arnaiz and turn right to Osmeña toward the destination.
Trucks and buses traversing Osmeña must use the Osmeña-Buendia Flyover. Vehicles with a gross weight exceeding 4,500 kilos are prohibited from using other roads within Makati, such as the secondary roads, as alternate routes. Light private vehicles may, however, use the roads assigned for buses and trucks.
Northbound buses and trucks using Skyway are not allowed to go beyond the Magallanes Exit. They must exit at the Skyway Magallanes off-ramp and take Osmeña ground level and the Buendia-Osmeña Flyover, then proceed northward along Osmeña to destination.
Buses bound for LRT Taft-Buendia station will be provided with a U-turn slot along Osmeña near the Makati-Manila boundary at Zobel Roxas area. This will serve as a turn-around point to allow buses to take Buendia toward Taft Avenue.
Buses from Taft-Buendia going south via SLEx and Skyway must take Buendia, turn right to Edison, turn left to Rockefeller or Arnaiz and exit to Osmeña toward the destination. Southbound buses and trucks from Manila area traveling along Osmeña must use the Osmeña-Buendia Flyover. Niña P. Calleja