Monday, September 11, 2017

MMDA: U-turn slots, adjustments would be implemented along Commonwealth

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) advised motorists that U-turn slots and other adjustments would be implemented along Commonwealth Avenue affected by the construction of the Metro Rail Transit 7.

Emil Llavor, MMDA Road Safety Unit head, said workers of the project contractor EEI Corporation have started occupying several lanes from the center island of Commonwealth near the Technohub area as construction works began.

One of the adjustments in the area is the transfer of U-turn slot near the Technohub area to Tandang Sora area.

“The existing location of the U-turn which is near the Technohubb area would be excavated for the underground tunnel,” Llavor said.

He said motorists and commuters would start to experience heavier traffic when the excavation reaches North Avenue and Philcoa area.

“We have required the removal of the delineator installed by Road Board through the Department of Public Works and Highways to widen the road,” said Llavor, noting the delineator serves as separators for passing public utility and private vehicles in the area.

Loading and unloading areas along Commonwealth Avenue would also be fixed.  EEI Corporation, the project contractor,  likewise committed to install their own CCTV cameras in the area as well as provide flagmen to help in traffic management.

Meanwhile the MMDA fined the private contractor for obstructing traffic along busy Commonwealth Avenue when it parked a large crane used in their construction.

Through a letter, Jojo Garcia, MMDA assistant general manager for planning, said they ordered the private contractor EEI Corporation to pay P25,000 fine for blocking two lanes of traffic with their large crane early this week near Technohub area.

“The public badly needs the railway but the contractor must follow what we have agreed guidelines. They should limit their construction space,” said Garcia.

The contractors are only allowed to occupy two lanes in each direction.

Since the construction began late last month, motorists passing along Commonwealth Avenue have complained of heavy traffic.

Garcia said the contractor should understand that motorists need to get to their destination and inconvenience brought by the construction of the railway should be minimized.

In 2016, an annual average daily traffic of 272,255 vehicles was recorded along Commonwealth Avenue.

MRT-7 is a 22-kilometer rail transit system with 14 stations that would connect North Avenue in Quezon City to San Jose Del Monte City in Bulacan.

The 14 stations would be along North Avenue, Quezon City Memorial Circle, University Avenue, Tandang Sora, Don Antonio, Batasan, Manggahan, Doña Carmen, Regalado, Mindanao Avenue, Quirino, Sacred Heart. Tala, and San Jose Del Monte.

The project is expected to be finished by fourth quarter of 2019.

No comments:

Post a Comment