DPWH rolls out plans to detangle Metro Manila's traffic

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has laid out a detailed plan to tackle the ongoing traffic congestion in Metro Manila. During a recent meeting in San Juan City, hosted by President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr., Secretary Manuel M. Bonoan revealed several infrastructure projects to improve traffic flow and transportation efficiency across the metro.

The plan was discussed at the Bagong Pilipinas Town Hall Meeting on Traffic Concerns, attended by leaders from various sectors, including the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Transportation (DoTr), National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), and local officials.

DPWH's plan involves broadening and improving roads and building new ones to offer motorists alternative routes. Among the main plans aimed at reducing traffic are projects that fit within the goals of the 2023-2028 Philippine Development Plan, which is similar to the president's goal of lowering transport and logistics costs.

Other major projects include the Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3, which has cut travel time from Buendia to Balintawak from two hours to approximately 15-20 minutes. The NLEX-SLEX Connector Road is another huge project that is expected to reduce travel times between the North and South Luzon Expressways to about 20 minutes. The 7.7-kilometer elevated expressway is nearly finished and will particularly help daily commuters.

Additional projects aimed at decongesting traffic include the Southeast Metro Manila Expressway (C6 Expressway – Phase I), which will decrease travel from Bicutan to Batasan to 30 minutes, and the C5 South Link Expressway, reducing travel time from R-1 Expressway to SLEX/C5 from 40 minutes to 10 minutes.

DPWH is also focusing on constructing new bridges across the Pasig River and Manggahan Floodway to provide more routes and alleviate traffic on EDSA and other major roads. Bridges like the Binondo-Intramuros Bridge, BGC-Ortigas Center Link Road Project, and Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge have already been completed and are contributing to smoother traffic. In support of sustainable traffic solutions, DPWH is improving bike lane networks to encourage cycling. The mentioned plans will require efforts from different sectors, which would hopefully reduce traffic jam situations more effectively.