DPWH pushes through with coastal road dry run tomorrow

By BEN BALCE
Staff member

THE Department of Public Works and Highways yesterday announced that the newly completed Gusa-Agora section of the coastal road would be opened for a dry run tomorrow.

But only buses, trucks, taxis and private vehicles, including motorcycles, would be allowed by the Roads and Traffic Administration to use the new four-lane road during the dryun period, according to Vinah Maghinay, spokesperson of the DPWH regional office.

DPWH regional director Virgilio Eduarte  yesterday said the coastal road would be inaugurated by Public Works Secretary Mark Villar on Nov. 23 (not Nov. 24 as reported yesterday).

Eduarte said the clearing operations that started on Tuesday would continue ahead of tomorrow’s dry run.

“This is to observe the efficiency of the traffic flow and to foresee issues that may arise once the section will be completely opened to traffic on Nov. 23,” said Eduarte.

He said over 40 informal settlers have been identified to be encroaching on the new road but they would be taken care of by the City Housing and Urban Development Department, and the City Social Welfare and Development.

Maghinay also appealed to residents living near the new road to watch over their children. She pointed out that children have become so used to playing on the road for years.

“That’s very dangerous. We are requesting the parents to keep their children away from the road to avoid accidents. We have already coordinated with the LGU on this matter,” said Maghinay, quoting Eduarte.

The DPWH said the construction of the Agora-PPA-Corrales section of the road is a work in progress.

Maghinay said there are four other roadight-of-way issues in that section and the matter was submitted to the Office of the Solicitor General for possible expropriation proceedings.