R-10 made wider; DPWH sees project done by April

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on Thursday opened two northbound lanes of Radial Road 10 (R-10) to traffic, between Pacheco and Zaragoza streets in Tondo, Manila. “(Motorists) now have access to an improved and widened R-10 which they may use as alternative route to Edsa via Bonifacio Drive and Roxas Boulevard in traveling from north to south and vice-versa,” Public Works Secretary Mark Villar said in a statement. “If you are coming from Manila, it will usually take you two hours to reach Balintawak. But through R-10 … it will only take you at least an hour,” Villar added. A major route for cargo trucks servicing the Manila ports, the 9.7-km R-10 stretches from Delpan Bridge in Tondo, traversing the old Smokey Mountain area, to the mouth of Malabon River at Bangkulasi Bridge, C-4 Road in Navotas City. It also serves as an alternative route for motorists coming from Monumento and going to the airport and South Luzon Expressway.

According to the DPWH, nonstop construction will continue up to April to widen R-10 from two to six lanes in each direction. Earlier, the DPWH and the city governments of Manila and Navotas relocated about 3,000 informal settler families affected by R-10’s rehabilitation. DPWH-National Capital Region director Melvin Navarro said the project cost had reached P400 million because of road right of way issues. —Tina G. Santos