The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Region 5 announced on Sunday that sections of the Andaya Highway in Camarines Sur and the Maharlika Highway in Camarines Norte were reopened to ease holiday traffic congestion.
According to DPWH Region 5, three sections of the Andaya Highway reopened to two-way traffic on Saturday night, with the remaining section to be reopened on Sunday. Meanwhile, the Maharlika Highway has been opened to one-way traffic.
“Kagabi smooth na ang traffic. From light to moderate ang traffic kaya ang laki ng pagbabago,” DPWH 5 Regional Director Virgilio Eduarte said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview.
(Traffic was smooth last night, with conditions improving to light to moderate. This is a significant change.)
Eduarte attributed the closures to persistent rains in recent weeks, which oversaturated the roads, necessitating temporary repairs. On December 18, a 17-kilometer traffic jam was reported on the Andaya Highway due to the closures.
The DPWH pledged to work around the clock to resolve traffic issues on the region’s major roads before Christmas Eve, but Eduarte acknowledged that ongoing heavy rains posed a challenge.
“Sa ngayon, ang lakas pa rin ng ulan doon. Continuous pa rin so kahit na umuulan ay nagta-trabaho kami kasi rush hour nga tayo. Dapat before Christmas ay maging smooth ang traffic dito,” he said.
(It’s still raining heavily, but we are working continuously to meet our deadline. Traffic should flow smoothly by Christmas.)
To expedite repairs, Eduarte deployed engineering teams from neighboring districts to assist with operations, including steel sheet pile driving and backfilling.
The DPWH also coordinated with local authorities and the Land Transportation Office (LTO) Ragay Enforcement Team to manage vehicle flow and enforce traffic rules. — DVM, GMA Integrated News
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