Portion of Imelda Bridge in Parañaque closed until November 10 

If you’re one of those who regularly pass through the Imelda Bridge in Parañaque City, then be aware that a portion of its northbound outer lane will be temporarily closed until November 10, 2022.

The Facebook post announcing the said lane closure

The reason for this closure is to make way for construction works specifically for the casting of concrete plinths and pedestals needed for the tracks and the overhead catenary system of the Ninoy Aquino Station Light Rail Transit 1 (LRT-1). Parañaque City's Traffic and Parking Management Office previously said that the road closure will be from 9 p.m. to 4 a.m. daily.   

Due to the closure, only one northbound lane will be passable to motorists. Meanwhile, the southbound lanes of the said bridge will remain unaffected.  

The said temporary closure is a part of the Cavite Extension for LRT-1, and other lane closures on the said bridge have already taken place this year in connection with this project. There was one back in September 2022, and one in August 2022.  

So while these closures may temporarily affect traffic flow on the said bridge, the end result might be worth it for commuters who regularly use or even depend on the LRT. This is because according to the Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC), the project will increase the number of LRT-1 stations from 20 to 28, and it will also increase track length by 11 kilometers. 

Likewise, a common station is also being planned to link-up the LRT-1 to the Metro Rail Transit Lines 3 and 7.  

The Imelda Bridge [Photo: Google Maps]

The additional stations are set to cover several major cities not just Paranaque, but also Pasay, Manila, Quezon City, and Caloocan. More stations are seen to increase its daily passenger capacity to 800,000 per day.  

Once finished, the project’s addition of tracks and stations might also reduce the travel time to and from destinations like Cavite to just 25 to 30 minutes. This is particularly advantageous for folks who live down south but commute to work in the cities of Metro Manila.  

Furthermore, LRMC also says that we might even see enhanced commercial development around the rail stations.  

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