MMDA starts alternating Marcos Highway closures at Cainta due to LRT2 extension work

February 24, 2018 - 11:05 PM
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LRT2_groundbreaking_2017_handout
Groundbreaking ceremony for the LRT2 East Extension Project, from Cainta to Antipolo.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will start implementing this weekend an alternating road closure scheme on a portion of Marcos Highway as the construction of Light Rail Transit (LRT) Line 2 East Extension Project gets underway, Jojo Garcia, MMDA Acting General Manager, said.

According to Garcia, private contractor DMCI Holdings Incorporated will begin on Sunday (February 25) work on a coping beam at Emerald Station in Cainta that would require the alternating closure of Marcos Highway’s westbound and eastbound lanes.

First to be closed to vehicular traffic on Sunday, at 11 pm, is the westbound lane, covering a 50 meter-stretch.

A zipper lane or counterflow scheme will be in effect on the eastbound lane to accommodate vehicles going to Quezon City.

Based on agreed guidelines, Garcia said contractors are only allowed to work on the project during night time, a period when vehicular traffic is light. The scheme is expected to last until October this year.

He said the private contractor is allowed to work according to the agreed schedule: Monday to Thursday, from 11 pm to 4 am; Friday, from 12 midnight to 5 am; Saturday, from 11 pm to 5 am and Sunday, from 11 pm to 4 am. During said periods, either westbound or eastbound lane would be closed.

Garcia reminded the private contractor to coordinate with the MMDA should there be any movement or change in the agreed guidelines, with at least three days notice.

“We give our 100 percent support to the government’s Build, Build, Build program. We believe that coordination is the key to mitigate the traffic problems that this infrastructure project would cause,” said Garcia, during a recent press briefing.

MMDA traffic enforcers, private contractor’s flagmen and traffic enforcers of Pasig City, Marikina City and Rizal province, will work hand-in-hand managing traffic flow along this stretch.

The LRT Line 2 East Extension project involves the construction of two new stations: Emerald Station in Cainta and Masinag in Antipolo.