Girder launcher falls, closes road to Naia

Girder launcher which crashed on at least five vehicles at Tramo-Andrews Ave. CONTRIBUTED PHOTO/Naim Guroalim

MANILA, Philippines–Thousands of passengers bound for the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) were affected by the shutdown on Monday afternoon of Andrews Avenue in Pasay City, practically isolating the four airport terminals.

At least five vehicles were damaged when a girder launcher being used for the Naia Elevated Skyway construction fell to the ground around 3 p.m., causing the closure of the major thoroughfare near Tramo.

The 180-ton machine was too heavy to be lifted by cranes and Metropolitan Manila Development  Authority (MMDA) Chair Francis Tolentino said that they would have to cut it into smaller pieces before it could be removed. He added that it would probably take them at least six to seven hours to clear the road.

According to data from the Manila International Airport Authority, there were 48 international and domestic flights scheduled for departure from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Monday.

Authorities said that they were expecting around 7,000 airplane passengers to be affected by the closure of the thoroughfare leading to the four Naia terminals.

The MMDA, meanwhile, announced the closure of the westbound lane of Andrews Avenue while only one lane on the eastbound side remained open. The
Naia exit to Andrews Avenue was also closed to all types of vehicles.

The footage taken by closed-circuit television cameras of the MMDA showed that five vehicles were damaged when the girder launcher fell, including a white Suzuki van, a red Mazda sedan and a Toyota Revo.

Tolentino, however, said in a radio interview that none of the drivers or their passengers were injured. –Jeanette I. Andrade, Maricar B. Brizuela