Thursday, August 7, 2008 [ philstar.com ]
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane cited the Quezon City government yesterday for its active role in linking the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) to the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), a major project of President Arroyo to ease the flow of traffic in the metropolis.
“The close coordination of the city government will speed up the completion of the project,” Ebdane told city hall officials during yesterday’s executive staff meeting presided by Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr.
He said Belmonte’s commitment to help pay for the right of way acquisition would speed up the completion of the project.
To jumpstart the multi-million project, the city government and the DPWH have signed a memorandum of agreement for the construction of a four-lane flyover that will connect Tandang Sora to Luzon Avenue across Commonwealth Avenue.
Through Katipunan, the flyover will interlink SLEX with NLEX to Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao avenues, bypassing Metro Manila.
In his State of the City Address, Belmonte said that in response to the urban challenge of growth, the city government has invested in funding infrastructure projects, particularly roads and bridges.
The city government has spent at least P13 billion for infrastructure projects since 2001.
“As we create more high growth communities, we must connect them to Metro Manila’s major arteries to make growth sustainable. Extensive rehabilitation and expansion of basic infrastructure is essential, otherwise they become barriers to growth,” Belmonte said.
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