Araneta underpass seen to decongest Edsa

DPWH Secretary Rogelio L. Singson. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is set to unveil the Araneta-Quezon Avenue interchange project this Friday, three months ahead of the originally scheduled completion date of December 10, 2012.

“We were able to deliver our commitment to finish this milestone project of President Benigno S. Aquino III much earlier despite bad weather and unforeseen construction challenges,” DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson said in a statement released Tuesday.

The fast completion of the project was attributed to the directive of Singson for a 24/7 work scheme that accelerated the project and shortened the traffic inconvenience caused by the construction work.

The project, which cost P452 million, was below the approved budget of P534 million, translating into savings for the government. It involves the construction of an underpass along Quezon Avenue that will have submersible water pumps with generator sets and water cisterns to manage flooding.

“The project also covers the widening of Mariblo Bridge, improvement of service roads, and provision for street lighting, pavement markings, and traffic signs,” Singson said.

“The completed project will complement to the decongestion of Edsa and improve the level of service of congested roads within the area of influence resulting to reduced vehicle operating cost,” he added.

The Quezon Avenue underpass has been ranked “number one most feasible with least cost to improve traffic condition” along Quezon and Araneta Avenues by the strategic traffic masterplan created by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) and University of the Philippines – National Center for Transportation Studies (UP-NCTS).

The project will also be ready for future transportation development plans in the area including the Light Rail Transit line four and the Skyway Phase three projects, Singson said.