MANILA -- Provincial buses will be prohibited from plying along EDSA on weekdays, starting July 15 due to simultaneous road works that will be conducted in various parts of Metro Manila during the second half of the year.

The Metro Manila Council has released a resolution, banning all provincial buses from operating along EDSA from Pasay City until Cubao, Quezon City, both northbound and southbound, from 5 a.m. until 10 a.m. and from 4 p.m. until 9 p.m., from Monday to Friday. Violators will be meted out a PHP2,000 fine.

“All provincial buses from the north can traverse EDSA only until Cubao while provincial buses from the south can traverse only until Pasay during morning and afternoon till late evening rush hour during weekends,” MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia told a press briefing Friday.

“We expect to reduce by 2,000 provincial buses travelling along EDSA once the regulation is implemented,” he added.

The MMDA announced that various road works will be done in various locations along the metropolis starting this July.

Among these projects are North Luzon Expressway Drainage Enhancement Project along A. Bonifacio Road beginning July 1; construction of an elevated guideway for the Metro Rail Transit 7 (MRT-7) along North Avenue beginning July 2; emergency leak repair on a large mainline along EDSA-Shaw Boulevard area starting July 7and replacement of Buendia Bridge also beginning next month.

“We acknowledge that these projects will cause heavy traffic all-year-round but we cannot compromise the safety of the motorists. If there is an urgent need to do these road projects simultaneously, then we will give the necessary clearances,” Garcia said.

The following is the list of road construction and repairs to be conducted in Metro Manila and the alternative routes that may be taken by motorists:

NLEX Drainage Enhancement Project along A. Bonifacio Road beginning July 1

The NLEX Drainage Enhancement Project will be undertaken at a portion of Balintawak Cloverleaf along A. Bonifacio Avenue Road from 11 pm to 4 am for 70 to 80 days. To give way for this project, the ramp of Balintawak Cloverleaf EDSA-southbound will be closed to vehicular traffic.

Motorists are advised to take the following alternate routes:

Route 1: Vehicles coming from NLEX should take Smart Connect Interchange to Mindanao Avenue to destination. Exit to EDSA Monumento-bound and make a U-Turn to EDSA Southbound.

Route 2: Vehicles coming from Monumento to A. Bonifacio Avenue should turn right to Biglang Awa Street, left at Jasmine Street, straight to 11th Avenue, turn right at A. Bonifacio Avenue to destination.

Construction of an elevated guideway for the MRT 7 along North Avenue beginning July 2

Private contractor EEI Corporation will expand their working area on North Avenue in Quezon City for the construction of an elevated guideway for the MRT-7 starting July 2.

The elevated guideway will be put up on North Avenue, from Mindanao to Veterans Hospital Gate area in the jurisdiction of Bagong Pag-asa and Project 6.

Construction will be done in two phases: from Veterans to Vertis North Gate and from Vertis North Gate of Mindanao Avenue.

Emergency leak repair on a large mainline along EDSA-Shaw Blvd. area starting July 7

Water concessionaire Manila Water will conduct an emergency leak repair on its large mainline on EDSA-Shaw Boulevard southbound area.

Pre-construction works will begin July 7 while construction proper will be undertaken on a 24/7 schedule starting July 14 until the next 30 days.

Vehicles turning right from EDSA to Shaw Boulevard will be diverted to Starmall premises to allow southbound buses and private vehicles to use the service road exclusively.

Replacement of Buendia Bridge also in July

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is also set to build a stronger Buendia bridge along Buendia Avenue. The Buendia Bridge has been found with cracks and needs immediate replacement due to poor condition.

The MMDA has yet to give clearance for the construction of the new bridge that will be done in two phases. (PNA)