A worker chops branches of trees felled at the site of the construction of the Skyway 3 project along Osmeña Highway. The elevated highway will link the South and North Luzon expressways. PHOTO BY EDWIN MULI
A worker chops branches of trees felled at the site of the construction of the Skyway 3 project along Osmeña Highway. The elevated highway will link the South and North Luzon expressways. PHOTO BY EDWIN MULI

THE Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is looking for “cool-headed” traffic constables to deal with irate motorists and commuters when construction of more than a dozen infrastructure projects goes full blast later this year.

MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino said the agency will be hiring at least 400 traffic constables who will be deployed in the last quarter of the year, when most of the 15 infrastructure projects in Metro Manila are due to start.

Applicants should have finished at least second year in college and willing to work long hours to qualify.

“What we are looking for are those who are willing to sacrifice and who can [be on] duty anytime. They should also be patient and cool-headed,” Tolentino told reporters Wednesday.

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MMDA has assigned 100 traffic enforcers near the construction site of the Skyway 3 extension project. Tolentino said at least 50 traffic flagmen were also deployed by the project proponent.

The MMDA has required proponents of the 15 major infrastructure projects to provide their own flagmen.

Motorists and commuters have been told to expect traffic snarls to worsen when the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) starts work on the road projects.

In June this year, the construction of the four-lane underpass along Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue running under the intersection of Makati Avenue and Paseo de Roxas will begin.

Within 24 months, the DPWH will build a 468-meter bridge in Pasig City to decongest traffic on C5 Road and EDSA and improve accessibility between the Ortigas Commercial Business District in Pasig and the Global City in Taguig.

To decongest traffic from North Avenue and West Avenue, the DPWH will construct two second-level flyovers, with three lanes in each direction, along EDSA with MRT 3 at the center, a two-lane third level flyover from EDSA and two-lane third level flyover from West Avenue, merging to form a single flyover toward North Avenue.

This project will begin in March 2015 and is expected to be finished in November 2016.

At the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) expressway, phase 2, the DPWH will construct an elevated expressway, including the ramps, from the terminus of Phase I at the Sales Avenue going to Andrews Avenue, Domestic Road, MIA Road and ending at Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard and Entertainment City.

The project will connect NAIA’s three terminals.

In Makati City, the DPWH will place an asphalt overlay on the third-level flyover along EDSA and second level interchange from abutment to abutment; repair of the expansion joints; strengthening/retrofitting of the deck slab (soffit) of the second level interchange and the inner lane of the third level flyover (Pasay bound).

“The repair/strengthening of Magallanes Interchange when completed will restore the structural integrity of the bridges for the safety of the traveling public. This project has a length of 1,809.50 lineal meters,” the DPWH said.

A four-lane flyover will be constructed at the intersection of EDSA and Taft Ave.

Other projects are the EDSA/Roosevelt-Congressional Avenue Interchange; NLEX-SLEX connector road and the C2 (Gov. Forbes St./R-7 España Street Underpass.

The DPWH will also repair, rehabilitate and improve the South Superhighway in Makati.

The Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) will be constructing the Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3 and the CP Garcia-McKinley Hill Ramp.

The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) will start work on the MRT Line 3/LRT Line 1 Extension common station; LRT Line 2 East Extension up to Masinag and the LRT Line 1 Extension (Cavite).

The DPWH said the 15 projects will improve accessibility between major roads in Metro Manila.

Truck ban

Tolentino said he will meet with Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada next week to discuss the 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. truck ban that will be enforced by the city beginning February 24.

Tolentino said he will present a win-win solution to the city’s implementation of the extended truck ban.

He said the Metro Manila Council, the policy-making body of the MMDA, has formed a committee to find possible solutions to the dispute.

Truckers and exporters are opposing the new truck ban schedule, which they said will affect their operations.

Tolentino said the trucker groups raised “valid” concerns during the two-day traffic summit called by the agency last week.