MMDA to motorists: Brace for heavy traffic on Marcos Highway

Motorists are being advised to brace for heavy traffic along the Marcos Highway as portions of the highway will be alternately closed to traffic starting on Sunday night to give way for the Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 2 East Extension Project, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) announced on Saturday.

On Sunday, February 25, DMCI Holdings Inc. the project’s private contractor will begin installing coping beams at the line’s Emerald Station in Cainta.

To be closed at 11 p.m. on Sunday is a 50 meter-stretch of the highway’s westbound lane, MMDA acting general manager Jojo Garcia said in a statement.

“A zipper lane or counterflow scheme will be in effect on the eastbound lane to accommodate vehicles going to Quezon City,” Garcia said.

Garcia said contractors are only permitted to work on the project at night, when vehicular traffic in the area is light.
“Contractors are only allowed to work on the project during night-time, a period when vehicular traffic is light. The scheme would last until October this year,” he added.

According to the MMDA, the alternating closures (either westbound or eastbound) will be at these hours and days:

-Monday to Thursday, from 11 pm to 4 am
-Friday, from 12 midnight to 5 am
-Saturday, from 11 pm to 5 am
-Sunday, from 11 pm to 4 am

According to Garcia, DMCI was only allowed to work on the project during these periods.

“We give our 100 percent support to the government’s Build, Build, Build program. We believe that coordination is the key to mitigate the traffic problems that this infrastructure project would cause.  Any single movement we need to know, with at least three-day notice,” Garcia said.  /muf