MANILA, Philippines — A P10-billion alternative bridge, which hopes to reduce Metro Manila traffic by as much as 40 percent, was unveiled on Tuesday by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).
Dubbed the “Skybridge” project, MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino said the plan is to construct the elevated highway on top of estuaries, particularly along San Juan River, in a bid to
decongest the perennially thoroughfare, which would be an alternative to EDSA, without encountering road right-of-way problems in the construction phase,” said Tolentino.
The bridge that would serve as an alternate thoroughfare to EDSA that motorists can use for 24 hours will connect E. Rodriguez Avenue in Quezon City and JP Rizal Avenue in Makati City. It will have on and off ramps on Aurora Boulevard, P. Sanchez Street, and New Panaderos Intersection.
“According to studies, traffic costs P140 billion per year. We hope this project would lessen traffic along EDSA by 40 percent,” he said.
Even if the Skybridge would be costly, Tolentino said the project expects that travel time between Makati and Quezon City would be shortened.
“Travel speed along EDSA would improve by as much as 20 to 29 kilometers per hour, while travel time from Quezon City to Makati would take only about 15 to 18 minutes compared to the current one hour,” the MMDA chairman stressed.
The MMDA said more than 320,000 public and private vehicles travel along the 24-kilometer EDSA, with the volume further increasing during the holiday season.
“With this project, we want to utilize our esteros and transform a new thoroughfare on top of it,” he stressed.
Under the plan, the bridge would have three lanes each for both the north and south-bound section, and would pose no problem to vehicular traffic as it would utilize or pass over esteros.
Citing that the project is in compliance with the agency’s urban planning mandate, Tolentino said the MMDA will submit the design to the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for approval.
If approved, Tolentino said the construction of the project, to be built under the private-public partnership, would likely take two years to finish.
“I believe that DPWH has expressed approval of the project,” said Tolentino, adding that they have started preparing for the project since last year.
He also said that the project does not involve demolition of informal settlers although he acknowledged they will be affected once construction starts.
Tolentino said posts would be erected on the waters of esteros that would affect informal settlers near the area. The trouble of construction may eventually force informal settlers to vacate their homes.
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