MMDA: Southbound portion of Roxas Boulevard closed to motorists starting January 15

The southbound portion of Roxas Boulevard will be closed to motorists starting January 15, 2022, Saturday at 6 a.m. to allow authorities to repair the damaged box culvert in front of Libertad Pumping Station in Pasay City, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority said Wednesday.

In an online press briefing, MMDA chairman Benhur Abalos revealed that the Department of Public Works and Highways must immediately conduct their road works on the southbound lane of Roxas Boulevard, fronting HK Sun Plaza in Pasay City going to the flyover of EDSA-Roxas Boulevard.

"Kami po ay humingi ng request sa DPWH kung maaari  kalahati muna buksan dito ngunit sabi ng DPWH because of the integrity nung kanilang ginagawa baka raw mag-weaken yung structure dahil may mga pounding effect yung mga dadaang sasakyan dito," said Abalos.

(We requested DPWH if they can only open half of the road but DPWH said because of the integrity of their road works, it might weaken the structure because the vehicles have a pounding effect on the road concerned.)

Abalos also asked for the public's understanding of the closure because it is "necessary for safety."

In the same press conference, Mikunug Macud, district engineer of DPWH South Manila said the closure and repair in the area will be for 60 days.

Macud also explained that the box culvert was constructed in 1970 which is in need of immediate repairs as it has been used for more than 50 years.

"Kung hindi natin irerepair ngayon, baka after six months bumagsak... Kung hindi natin magawa ngayon, mas lalala pa kapag pinagpaliban pa natin ito.  This is the right time na talagang gawin natin ito," said Macud.

(If we can't repair it now, it might be damaged after six months. If we don't do it now, it will worsen the situation. This is the right time to do it.)

Engineer Noemie  Recio, director of MMDA Traffic Engineering Center, assured the public that they will deploy traffic enforcers to prevent congestion in the affected road.

“Once closed, we will deploy additional traffic enforcers for the entire duration of the rehabilitation. We will also implement a zipper lane or counterflow scheme for light vehicles, but on a case-to-case basis,” Recio said.

Following the closure, MMDA advised motorists to take these alternate routes:

For Light Vehicles:

• From Bonifacio Drive/Roxas Boulevard: take Roxas Blvd.-Buendia Avenue service road, turn right at Buendia Avenue Extension then left at Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard going to destination.

• From Bonifacio Drive/Roxas Boulevard: turn right at HK Sun Plaza access road then left at Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard to destination.

• From Bonifacio Drive/Roxas Boulevard: left at Pres. Quirino Avenue to destination.

For Trucks/Trailers and other vehicles from Bonifacio Drive going to Roxas Boulevard southbound:

All heavy vehicles/trucks/trailers, turn left to P. Burgos Avenue, straight towards Finance Road and Ayala Boulevard, then right to San Marcelino Street, take P. Quirino Avenue to South Luzon Expressway to destination.

At present, MMDA said at least 887 cargo trucks and 1,029 trailers daily are traversing the Roxas Boulevard southbound direction.—LDF, GMA News