Motorcycles also prohibited from portion of Edsa-Kamuning service road

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is set to partially close the Edsa-Kamuning southbound flyover in Quezon City starting April 25, to make way for the retrofitting and strengthening of its permanent bridges. The areas highlighted in yellow indicate the parts which will be affected by the retrofitting project. PHOTO SCREENGRABBED FROM A DOCUMENT PROVIDED TO REPORTERS BY THE DPWH

MANILA, Philippines — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Thursday said it would disallow motorcycles from using the service road of the Edsa-Kamuning flyover in Quezon City (QC) due to the partial closure of the southbound lane of the overpass that began May 1.

MMDA Acting Chair Romando Artes said motorcycles will no longer be allowed on the Edsa-Kamuning service road starting on Friday and will instead be guided to take alternative routes such as Scout Borromeo Street, Panay Avenue, Mother Ignacia Avenue and Scout Albano Street.

READ: Edsa-Kamuning flyover shut for repairs

“This move is to lessen the traffic on Kamuning service road. All vehicles, including motorcycles, are urged to use the alternate routes,” Artes told reporters during an inspection conducted with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) National Capital Region Director Loreta Malaluan, other DPWH and MMDA officials, and representatives from the QC local government.

The officials, during the morning inspection of the flyover, noted the slow-moving traffic on the service road. Artes said if alternate routes are used more, the service road will be decongested.

The MMDA chief said additional traffic enforcers will also be deployed to better manage and guide passing motorists and other road users. More directional and traffic signages will also be installed to guide them along identified alternate routes, he added.

He said the MMDA would also request the Department of Transportation for the Edsa Carousel buses to utilize the service road daily from 11 p.m. to ensure uninterrupted retrofitting works at the flyover.

Data from the MMDA Traffic Engineering Center showed that 24,000 four-wheeled vehicles and 23,000 motorcycles traverse the southbound lanes of the flyover daily.

Clearing operations

The MMDA, along with Quezon City Hall, will continue its intensified clearing operations on Mabuhay Lanes and along other identified alternate routes to ensure they are passable.“Barangay officials will help in clearing alternate routes and ensuring smooth traffic flow in the area,” Artes added.

For his part, Malaluan said retrofitting would be conducted round-the-clock aimed at making the flyover sturdier during future earthquakes, including the “Big One.”

The southbound lane of the Edsa-Kamuning flyover has been partially closed since May 1 for a six-month retrofitting and rehabilitation, with the works taking up two lanes of the flyover. The other remaining lane is being used exclusively for the Edsa busway.