The southbound portion of the Timog Flyover along Edsa in Quezon City will reopen to motorists at 5 p.m. on July 25, with major repairs already completed “ahead of schedule.”

In a press conference at the MMDA headquarters in Makati City on Wednesday, Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) District Engineer Edward Santos said the “major repairs” on the flyover are “mostly done.”

The flyover’s southbound portion was closed to traffic on June 25 to make way for immediate repairs after cracks were observed along the structure.

In addition to the resumption of the flyover operation, MMDA Officer-in-Charge Director Baltazar Melgar in a Laging Handa briefing said road and sidewalk clearing operations are ongoing across Metro Manila to address the expected influx of more vehicles due to the return of face-to-face classes in November.

“Tinutuloy namin iyong aming programa sa trapiko, kasi ‘pag wala iyong mga obstruction na iyan, bibilis ang daloy ng ating trapiko (We are continuing our traffic programs because once those obstructions are removed, the flow of traffic will be faster),” Melgar said.

He said the MMDA has offered its assistance to schools in the Metro Manila area to help prepare for the return of students to the classrooms.

“Through our ‘Balik Eskwela (return to school)’ program, we provide assistance to school principals, we’ve received requests to create pedestrian lane markings and misting inside the schools so that by the start of the school year this August, we are ready),” he said.

He also urged the public to assist the government in its clearing operations by not creating obstructions, such as structures or parked vehicles, on sidewalks or roadways. (PNA)