Magallanes southbound closed Friday till Aug. 17

MANILA, Philippines–Starting at 10 p.m. Friday until Aug. 17, the southbound lane of the Magallanes Interchange in Makati City will be closed to vehicles due to “repairs and the strengthening of the structural component” of the 39-year-old flyover.

In an advisory issued on Thursday, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said that “asphalting activities” would also be conducted on the structure.

“With the issuance of a clearance by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, work on the interchange will begin at 10 p.m. this Friday,” it added.

The DPWH advised motorists going toward the South Luzon Expressway and the Alabang, Muntinlupa City, area to take the Osmeña Highway-Magallanes Service Road.

The repair and asphalt overlaying are part of the ongoing rehabilitation of the interchange, which was built in 1975 by the Marcos administration.

Funded under the DPWH infrastructure program in 2013, the P167-million project started Nov. 8 and is expected to be completed by Jan. 10, 2015.

As of Aug. 6, the project is only “31.7 percent complete,” according to a DPWH report.

“The repair and strengthening of the Magallanes Interchange, when completed, will restore the structural integrity of the [multilevel] bridge for the safety of the traveling public,” the report said.

DPWH engineers Edgardo Ramos and Rey Bautista are in charge of the project.