MST:
THE Public Works Department plans to build a 22-kilometer elevated highway on top of Epifanio delos Santos Avenue to ease traffic congestion in the Metro, Secretary Rogelio Singson said Monday.
He told a Senate budget hearing the plan called for putting up a six-lane road that would have only three exit ramps: one in Makati City, another in Greenhills, San Juan, and a third in Quezon City “to separate local traffic from through traffic.”
Singson said the project would cost P50 billion, and that it would be built through a public-private partnership and financed by foreign loans.
“Edsa is already very congested, and its expansion capacity has already been exhausted to its limits.” Singson said.
Senate Finance committee chairman Franklin Drilon said the Japan International Cooperation Agency did the study for the project, which would be finished by the end of the year. The ground-breaking for the road would take place by the second quarter next year.
“This will ultimately solve the nightmare we in Metro Manila suffer everyday.” Drilon said.
Singson said the elevated highway could not have as many entry points and exits because the intersections crossing Edsa already had flyovers. The project would also have provisions for Metro Rail Transit 3.
“This is a big-ticket project, and the donor [countries have] pledged interest in the [government’s] Overseas Development Assistance [portfolio],” Singson said.
Also in the pipeline is the 49.1-kilometer circumferential 6 that will connect the North Luzon Expressway in Marilao, Bulacan, to San Jose del Monte, Rodriguez, San Mateo, Antipolo City, Angono and Taytay. The road will then connect to to the South Luzon Expressway interchange in Bicutan.
Information Courtesy of Manila STandard Today / Rey T. Salita
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