DPWH believes more roads, bridges can improve Metro Manila’s agonizing traffic situation
The DPWH has bared its grand plan (and contribution) to address the continuing worsening of traffic in Metro Manila. In its “comprehensive strategy aimed at easing traffic flow and improving transportation efficiency”, the agency has lined up its infrastructure projects that include the expansion and upgrading of transportation infrastructures, as well as the construction of new roads and bridges.
What’s the DPWH’s plan to improve Metro Manila traffic?
Photo: Department of Public Works and Highways
The DPWH has (long ago) weighed in on the traffic situation of Metro Manila and continues the implementation of its traffic decongestion programs. These are all aligned with the 2023-2028 Philippine Development Plan and consistent with the President’s 8-point socioeconomic agenda to reduce transport and logistics costs and focus on the improvement and expansion of the national road network by building more by-passes, diversion roads, expressways, flyovers, interchanges, and underpasses.
Here’s what’s in the pipe and what progress there is:
Expressways / Tollways / Roadways
The 18-kilometer main line was seen to shorten travel time between Buendia and Balintawak from 2 hours to only 15-20 minutes. The entire expressway is targeting a total of 28 ramps with already 22 completed, 3 ramps that are currently being constructed, and the last 3 in their planning stages. Construction of the Tomas Claudio – Polytechnic University of the Philippines Sta. Mesa Section is also ongoing.
NLEX-SLEX Connector Road
This is a 7.7-kilometer elevated expressway that will bridge the distance between SLEX and NLEX in just 20 minutes from what was 2 hours when fully completed. Mostly traversing the same line above the PNR Rail from Caloocan to Plaza Dilao, it’s already at 95% completion with 3 interchanges located in C3-5th Avenue in Caloocan, Espana, and Magsaysay Boulevard. It will ultimately connect into Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3 at Sta. Mesa, Manila.
Southeast Metro Manila Expressway (C6 Expressway – Phase I)
Acquisition of Right-of-Way is ongoing for this 32-kilometer roadway that intends to result in a 30-minute travel time (currently 2 hours) between Bicutan to Batasan.
C5 South Link Expressway
The Merville to C5/SLEX and E. Rodriguez to Merville Sections are already operational. Once completed, it will shorten travel time between R1 Expressway to SLEX/C5 from 40 minutes to just 10 minutes.
Laguna Lakeshore Road Network Project – Phase I
Already 97% complete, it involves the construction of a 51-kilometer road network. It will span from Laguna Lakeshore in Calamba to Bicutan and is seen to ease the traffic volume in Metro Manila’s southern corridor.
Cavite-Laguna Expressway
This 44-kilometer roadway will reduce travel time between CAVITEX Kawit to SLEX Mamplasan from 2 hours to just 35 minutes once completed. The 17.4-kilometer stretch that spans SLEX Mamplasan and Silang-Aguinaldo is already open and the remaining sections are targeting completion within next year.
–
Bridges
Photo: Department of Public Works and Highways
The Binondo-Intramuros Bridge, BGC-Ortigas Center Link Road Project, and Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge are already completed and operational, open for public use.
There are design and build contracts for three other bridges – North & South Harbor Bridge and Palanca-Villegas Bridge crossing Pasig River (civil works) and Eastbank-Westbank Bridge 2 crossing Manggahan Floodway. The first 2 are targeted to start by the end of this year or early part of next year, while the 3rd is set to commence in September 2024.
As for the Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge (Inter-Island Linkage Bridge Program), DPWH shares that this is to be the longest bridge in the Philippines when it is fully constructed. This landmark project will be 32 kilometers long and will bridge Bataan and Cavite in just 45 minutes from 5 hours by bypassing Metro Manila and traveling above Manila Bay. The detailed engineering design of this PHP 219B mega bridge project in Luzon is already 97% complete, with final approval of design plans currently ongoing.
–
Photo: Department of Public Works and Highways
Infrastructure is all well and good, and alongside these projects, DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan assured the public that the DPWH will continue to develop and conduct further studies on infrastructure projects that will alleviate traffic in Metro Manila in coordination with various stakeholders. The DPWH will likewise continue assisting MMDA in road clearing and removal of obstructions as well as promote active transport by building more bike lanes and pedestrian infrastructure in coordination with the DoTr.
If you were to be asked, what would you do to help decongest Metro Manila, and what would your ideas on alternative and active transportation be? Will your ideas be in line with the DPWH? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments section.
