Monster traffic jam starts

[jake]

OMINOUS SIGN. Looking more like a warning to motorists, a traffic advisory for the construction of the Skyway Stage 3 project starting on Monday night is displayed along Osmeña Highway in Manila. RICHARD A. REYES

MANILA, Philippines—Are you ready for some truly monstrous traffic jams and “bear with the short-term inconvenience,” as Malacañang pleaded Sunday?

Construction of two major government infrastructure projects starts Monday night, and it is expected to worsen metropolitan traffic throughout the remainder of the Aquino administration.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) earlier projected that on Edsa alone, vehicular traffic could slow down to only 1 to 9 kilometers per hour.

Roadwork on the six-lane expressway being built by the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) connecting South Luzon Expressway from Buendia in Makati to North Luzon Expressway on Balintawak in Quezon City will start at 10 p.m.

That’s on top of the project connecting the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Expressway Phase 2 of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to the seaside Entertainment City.

Malacañang spokesman Herminio Coloma on Sunday sought understanding from the public, citing in particular the traffic congestion that would be caused by the construction of the 14.8-kilometer Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3 project.

“We call on our people to share in the burden of sacrifice and bear with the short-term inconvenience so we can build better roads that will ensure faster travel and more productive living in our highly congested National Capital Region,” Coloma said on Radyo ng Bayan.

“For the benefit of the people and to avoid adding to the traffic problem on Edsa,” the main rites marking the 28th anniversary of the Edsa People Power Revolution would be held at the Palace grounds—not on the historic thoroughfare—on Feb. 25, he said.

Preparation

But has the government, particularly the MMDA, sufficiently prepared for the heavy traffic?

Quoting MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino, Coloma cited the two-day Metro Traffic Management Summit at the Asian Institute of Management in Makati that closed on Friday—just three days before all hell is expected to break loose.

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Yes Mr Chairman all hell has broken loose and it was only the first day!

[grahamw48]

They need more nice clean and fast trains, like the LRT....with escalators, not a hundred steps up to them.

[Terpe]

Both are much needed projects.
Hopefully the pain will be worth it.

[Terpe]

They need more nice clean and fast trains, like the LRT....with escalators, not a hundred steps up to them.

Yes, I'd agree with that ........ in the longer term a better strategy.
The costs would be astronomical though.

[jake]

Both are much needed projects.
Hopefully the pain will be worth it.

I will remember these words every time i have to pick up or drop of something to a student at UST Fingers crossed the whole project will take only 3 years and not drag on like similar government projects in the past.

The problem is i don't think it will really stop the traffic congestion in Manila. Yes, it will help some private car owners get from A to B in quicker times. Most of the trucks, vans, jeeps etc will still use the original roads, as it works out cheaper. If it took me 2 hrs longer to get somewhere and i could make half a days salary by not using the Skyway the choice would be simple.