MMDA in talks to open Roxas Boulevard access road

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has started discussions with commercial establishments that will be affected by its initiative to let all motorists use the access road on Roxas Boulevard to ease congestion in the area.

MMDA officer in charge and general manager Tim Orbos said that with the service road open to all vehicles, motorists would have access to another four lanes stretching around five kilometers from Edsa in Pasay City to T.M. Kalaw Avenue in Manila.

Right now, the service road is not fully utilized as motorists, mostly customers of commercial establishments in the area, are allowed to park there. Orbos said that members of the Metro Manila Council meeting agreed earlier this month that parking would still be allowed in the area, only it should be limited to one-sided parallel parking.

He added that with the MMDA still working to clear the road of obstructions, the opening would be done in stages starting next month.

The first area to be opened will be the stretch of Gil Puyat Avenue to T.M. Kalaw Avenue, followed by Edsa to Gil Puyat Avenue and finally between MIA Road and Edsa.

Based on the MMDA’s simulation, travel time on Roxas Boulevard from Edsa to T.M. Kalaw Avenue can be reduced by up to 28 percent with the opening of the access road. A 10-percent reduction in travel time was also observed in the opposite direction.

As of February this year, the MMDA has estimated that over 140,000 cars traverse Roxas Boulevard daily while some 6,100 vehicles use the access road. –Jovic Yee