Apec lanes to open on Edsa for VIPs

Motorists would do well to stay away from Edsa and Roxas Boulevard during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in November.

During a briefing on Tuesday, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chair Francis Tolentino said that dedicated lanes would be opened on the two major thoroughfares between Nov. 16 and 18 for the exclusive use of Apec delegates.

On Edsa, four innermost lanes will be designated as Apec lanes—two each on the southbound and northbound sides.

“These will be from Shaw Boulevard in Mandaluyong City to the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City,” Tolentino said, adding that plastic barricades would be laid out on the busy thoroughfare to separate the exclusive lanes from those which may be used by other motorists.

He explained that the Apec lanes would start in Mandaluyong since some of the delegates would be staying in hotels in the area.

As for Roxas Boulevard, the entire southbound stretch will be open only to Apec delegates. The public can use the northbound side where traffic will be two-way, Tolentino said.

“We will also deploy 2,504 MMDA personnel during the Apec Summit,” he added.

Aside from the MMDA, teams from the Traffic Management Group, Motorcycle and Mobile Group, Clearing and Cleaning Group, Road Emergency Preparedness Group, Traffic Engineering Group, Pedestrian Safety and Control Group and Flood Control Group will also be deployed.

Tolentino said that two days before the Apec summit, work on all major road constructions in the metropolis like the Skyway Stage 3, Ninoy Aquino International Airport Elevated Expressway and Ayala Bridge would be stopped.

Citing security reasons and the need to ease traffic flow, Malacañang earlier declared  that Nov. 18 and 19 would be special nonworking holidays in Metro Manila.

At the same time, it also ordered the suspension of all classes in the metropolis from Nov. 17 to 20.

Up to 21 world leaders are expected to arrive in the country for the Apec summit on Nov. 18 and 19.