Traffic situation to worsen before it improves, Pasay City warns

The Pasay City government has warned that traffic will worsen around the city, as Phase II-A of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Expressway has started construction, with Phase II-B scheduled to begin next month. The city has appealed to motorists for patience and understanding.

The Naia Expressway Project will connect Terminals 1, 2 and 3 as well as link the airport directly to Skyway and  Manila-Cavite Expressway (Cavitex) in Parañaque City. The Department of Public Works and Highways has started constructing Phase II-A from Macapagal Boulevard to Naia Terminals 1 and 2 with the completion date targeted in March 2015. Phase II-B which will connect the Domestic Airport Road to Naia Terminal 3 will start on April 17.

Mayor Antonino Calixto, has said that the city government has deployed additional traffic enforcers as part of measures to relieve heavy traffic flow once    both projects are underway. “We appeal to our commuters to be more patient [because] after the completion of the project, we will be spending less time on the road and thus, increasing productivity in the long run,” he said.

The mayor pointed out the positive effects the major infrastructure projects, saying that while these would heavily affect traffic in the city, they would “definitely bring forth more progress and development in Pasay City as more visitors and tourists would be able to travel in a shorter span of time.”

Pasay spokesperson Jona-than Malaya said the Pasay Traffic and Parking Management Office headed by Arturo Fortaleza has deployed at least 10 additional traffic enforcers to areas affected by construction work.

These are Sales Street, Sales Circle, Barangay (village)183, R. Higgins Street, Gate 2-Andrews Avenue, Aurora-Andrews Avenues, Domestic Airport Road-Andrews Avenue and in front of the domestic airport.

With the completion of both projects, several streets adjoining the cities of Pasay and Parañaque will be widened to ease traffic flow. These include Andrews Avenue, Macapagal Boulevard, Naia Road, Coastal Road-Cavitex and Imelda Avenue in front of Naia Terminal 1.

With report by Niña Calleja