THE 50-year-old Guadalupe Bridge in Makati City will be the next one in the metropolis to undergo repair and retrofitting after similar works were completed on the southbound portion of the Kamuning flyover in Quezon City, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority said yesterday.
Authorities reopened the southbound portion of the Kamuning flyover to motorists yesterday, completing the repair work ahead of the original schedule of October.
The Department of Public Works and Highways closed the Kamuning flyover southbound last May 1 for repairs.
“The DPWH was able to finish the flyover’s retrofitting works two months ahead of schedule intended to strengthen and prepare it for potential earthquakes, or the ‘Big One,’” MMDA chief Romando Artes said.
While motorists can now use the flyover anew, DPWH National Capital Region Regional Director Loreta Malaluan said work continues under the flyover.
Data from the MMDA Traffic Engineering Center showed that 24,000 four-wheeled vehicles and 23,000 motorcycles use the southbound lanes of the flyover daily.
Artes said the MMDA is coordinating with the DPWH and other agencies for the repair of other bridges in Metro Manila, like the Guadalupe Bridge and the Magallanes flyover in Makati City.
“Rehabilitation works are ongoing on the Magallanes flyover but only during the night, and no closures have been implemented so as to minimize inconvenience to vehicular traffic,” said Artes.
The MMDA chief said next to undergo repairs is the Guadalupe Bridge.
“But it is still in the planning stages as a temporary bridge must be constructed to accommodate passing vehicles,” he added.
Last month, the DPWH said it would not start with the much-needed retrofitting of the Guadalupe bridge without the establishment of extension lanes on EDSA to ease the expected traffic congestion.
The planned retrofitting of the Guadalupe bridge connecting Makati and Mandaluyong would be undertaken as part of the preparation for a potential mega-earthquake in the metropolis.
The Japan International Cooperation Agency earlier warned that the West Valley Fault is long overdue and could trigger an earthquake of up to magnitude 7 at any time.
