Infra, repair works resume in LRT-1 Cavite Extension

WORKS RESUME AT LRT-1. Personnel of the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1) conduct maintenance works after being given the green light by government regulators. The Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC) on Tuesday said works for the LRT-1 Cavite Extension resumed, aside from improvement works that would benefit commuters once the enhanced community quarantine is lifted in Metro Manila. (Photo courtesy of LRMC)

The Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC), the private operator of the Light Rail Transit Line 1 (LRT-1), has resumed infrastructure and repair works on the LRT-1 Cavite Extension project after being given green light by government regulators.

In a statement on Tuesday, the LRMC said the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF-EID), with support from the Department of Transportation (DOTr), has allowed the resumption of infrastructure works, with compliance to guidelines set by the IATF-EID to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).

The resumption of works includes scheduled pit works (bridge and pipe inspection) which require temporary road closure of the innermost northbound lane along the Cavite Expressway (Cavitex) – Parañaque Bridge from May 7 (Thursday) at 7 a.m. to May 22 at 11:59 p.m.

It said the temporary road closure was previously announced and was rescheduled due to the enhanced community quarantine in Luzon.

“Design works, assembly works and select tasks at the precast yard area are also ongoing for the Cavite Extension Project — which would see the LRT-1 line reach Bacoor, Cavite,” the LRMC said.

It said the works would comply with guidelines set by the IATF-EID such as the reduction of personnel to a skeletal workforce, accommodation and transportation for workers, regular disinfection of workplaces, shuttles, and accommodations, regular health monitoring, physical distancing, and proper hygiene.

Better service

Following preventive and corrective maintenance works, such as replacement of air-conditioning compressor units, the LRMC said the LRT-1 will be ready and will provide better service to commuters once it resumes operation after the enhanced community quarantine in Metro Manila.

“Rest assured that we are taking every opportunity during this time to come back better for Filipino commuters. We are taking great efforts to make sure our workers remain safe and healthy by following the proper guidelines and precautions set by the government,” said LRMC Chief Operating Officer Enrico Benipayo.

https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1101974

Work on infra projects resumes

Private contractors want to get ‘Build, Build, Build’ back on track

Big contractors are raring to begin work on major infrastructure projects to help bring the government’s “Build, Build, Build” program back on track.

Major public and private construction projects from railways to elevated roads have stalled since the Duterte administration imposed strict quarantine measures last March amid the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

Some of those restrictions have been rolled back with proper safety protocols in place, allowing some construction activities to continue.

EEI Corp. CEO Roberto Jose L. Castillo told the Inquirer they have resumed work on the Metro Rail Transit Line 7 just before the weekend.

Controlled by conglomerate San Miguel Corp., the MRT-7 is a 23-kilometer railway line that will link San Jose del Monte in Bulacan and North Ave. in Quezon and cut the usual two-hour travel time by car to about 30 minutes.

“The rail authorities got permission from the IATF to restart work on all rail projects in Metro Manila,” Castillo said, referring to the COVID-19 Inter-Agency Task Force.

Castillo said they have adequate safety protocols and personal protective equipment (PPE).

“We had the opportunity to train many of our people in observing safety protocols and wearing of the additional PPEs when we worked on the conversion of some the PICC Forum tent, Rizal Memorial Stadium,” he said.

Megawide Construction Corp.,the builder of the Mactan Cebu International Aiport and the new passenger terminal in Clark International Airport, said they were preparing to restart business.

“We’re ready with new health and safety standards,” Megawide CEO Edgar Saavedra said in a text message.

The IATF on April 29 issued Resolution No. 30 that outlined which construction projects may resume.

For areas under the less strict general enhanced community quarantine, essential public and private construction projects will be allowed. These include water sewerage, health facilities and other “priority projects.”

Areas under enhanced community quarantine, which was extended in places such as Metro Manila and Central Luzon until May 15, are still subject to strict guidelines. Priority projects are health facilities, disaster-risk and rehabilitation activities.

In a virtual briefing on Friday, Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said the government would continue its “Build, Build, Build” projects despite the COVID-19 crisis.

These include the 35-km Metro Manila Subway from Quezon City to Manila’s Ninoy Aquino International Airport and the Metro Rail Transit Line 3 rehabilitation project. The Department of Transportation also imposed safety requirements such as on-site accommodation for workers and point-to-point shuttle services.

Over the weekend, Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar also announced the partial resumption of the “Build, Build, Build” program. He said only workers aged 21 to 59 years old without preexisting health conditions would be included in the workforce

https://business.inquirer.net/296380/work-on-infra-projects-resumes

LRMC resumes limited works on LRT-1 Cavite Extension

LRT-1 private operator Light Rail Manila Corporation (LRMC) has resumed works on the 11.7 kilometre Cavite Extension Project after receiving the green light from the Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) and Department of Transportation (DOTr) to carry on with select repair and infrastructure works while the Enhanced Community Quarantine is still in place.

The scheduled test pit works (bridge and pipe inspection) required for the construction along the CAVITEX – Paranaque bridge is set to begin on May 07, 2020 (7AM) until May 22, 2020 (11:59PM). As a result, there will be a temporary road closure of the innermost lane (northbound) along CAVITEX – Paranaque bridge to give way to the necessary activities in the area during the same period. This was previously announced and rescheduled due to the government’s implementation of Enhanced Community Quarantine program last March 17.

Design works, assembly works and select tasks at the precast yard area are also ongoing for the Cavite Extension Project—which would see the LRT-1 line reach Bacoor, Cavite.

IATF-compliant operations

As part of the DOTr’s request to allow the resumption of maintenance and construction work on current rail projects, LRMC has complied with the IATF’s stated guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in their workplace. LRMC has implemented the following measures in their workplace at all times:

• Reducing operations to a skeletal workforce
• Providing accommodations and point-to-point shuttle services for workers
• Regular disinfection of all workplaces, shuttles, and accommodations
• Regular monitoring of personnel health and COVID-19 symptoms
• Imposition of physical distancing and proper hygiene

LRT-1 ready for better service

Preventive and corrective maintenance works, including the replacement of air-conditioning compressor units, are now in progress to ensure the public of better service when LRMC resumes operations of LRT-1. Public transport operations have been suspended since March 17 in line with the government’s enhanced community quarantine enforced in Luzon.

“Rest assured that we are taking every opportunity during this time to come back better for Filipino commuters. We are taking great efforts to make sure our workers remain safe and healthy by following the proper guidelines and precautions set by the government,” said LRMC Chief Operating Officer Enrico Benipayo.

For more updates and info on the LRT-1, follow LRMC on Facebook at facebook.com/officialLRT1, Twitter at @officialLRT1, or download the ikotMNL mobile app for free on Google Play and App Store.

https://wheels.ph/lrmc-resumes-limited-works-on-lrt-1-cavite-extension/