A congressman warned that Muntinlupa City is “under threat of shutting down” as the extreme congestion along the northbound lane of the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) is now affecting the city’s roads as well.
In a tweet, Rep. Ruffy Biazon said that vehicular traffic that is stranding motorists and commuters along SLEX has now reached the city. “The gridlock on northbound SLEX has spilled over to the National Road of Muntinlupa City. This is the main artery of the city,” he said.
On Tuesday evening, the outermost lane of SLEX after Alabang viaduct was closed to motorists to give way to the construction of the Skyway Extension project. Since the closure, some commuters said that their travel time from Southwoods in Biñan, Laguna to Alabang, Muntinlupa now takes three hours.
In spite of a stop-and-go traffic scheme along SLEX’s East Service Road, the tail end of standstill traffic reached Santa Rosa, Laguna.
The STAR reported that Biazon has requested a briefing with the Skyway management to tackle the issue of traffic along SLEX. “It’s just my observation that since the start of the roadworks last Sept. 24, traffic has been really bad along SLEX, compelling some motorists to seek alternate routes,” he revealed.
Biazon said that residents of Muntinlupa City are now compelled to make adjustments in their schedules just to be on time for work. “I understand that this is a necessary inconvenience and there are limited choices to alleviate the suffering due to the traffic caused by the construction,” he underscored.
Meanwhile, SMC Tollways president Manny Bonoan told The STAR that the traffic gridlock being experienced along SLEX could ease by mid-November as soon as the firm completes the construction of posts and structures for the Skyway Extension project.
“We just need an area for equipment and boring machines, that’s why we closed that one lane. Soon after the structures are completed we will remove the machines, then perhaps traffic will become lighter,” he said.
The five-kilometer ramp is expected to be completed by late 2020, according to Bonoan. – With Ralph Edwin Villanueva/STAR