Circumferential Road 5–Kalayaan Avenue Interchange

The Circumferential Road 5–Kalayaan Avenue Interchange, also known as the C-5–Kalayaan Interchange, is a road interchange in Makati, Metro Manila, the Philippines. Originally a regular four-way intersection between Circumferential Road 5 (C-5) and Kalayaan Avenue, it was fitted in 2009 with the country's first elevated U-turn slots, built in an attempt to speed up traffic along the C-5 corridor.

History

The C-5–Kalayaan intersection is the last major intersection of C-5 south of the Pasig River, and traffic congestion in the area is very heavy, even extending to as far north as Ortigas Avenue during rush hour.^[1] This ultimately led both the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to conclude that the construction of an interchange between the two roads was needed to speed up traffic.^[2] However, both agencies disagreed on the final design of the interchange. While the DPWH sought to construct a 750-meter (2,460 ft), six-lane underpass to divert through traffic under the intersection,^[3] the MMDA claimed that this was too expensive and impractical, and sought to build elevated U-turn slots instead,^[4] which it also argued would not require other infrastructure, such as street lamps and anti-flood measures, unlike an underpass.^[5]

In the end, the DPWH's proposal, which would have cost ₱600 million, was abandoned in favor of the MMDA's proposal, which was half the cost.^[6] Construction of the interchange, funded by a Japanese loan package,^[6] began in April 2008, when work began on the southern elevated U-turn slot, which was completed six months later. The northern elevated U-turn slot, meanwhile, began construction on December 2, 2008, and was completed on April 17, 2009.^[7] During construction, traffic that would normally cross the C-5–Kalayaan intersection was diverted through Circumferential Road 3 (C-3), including Gregorio Araneta Avenue, and Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA).^[2]

The entire interchange was inaugurated by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo, accompanied by MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando, on May 5, 2009,^[5] and it was opened to traffic the next day.^[7]

Impact

The impact of the C-5–Kalayaan Interchange's construction was initially positive. Within a week of the interchange's opening, the MMDA claimed that both traffic speed and vehicular volume increased, with more than 150,000 cars now passing through the intersection daily, taking an estimated amount of 30,000 vehicles off of EDSA in the process.^[8] Traffic speed on C-5 also increased from 20.85 kilometers per hour (12.96 mph) in 2006 and 2007 to 38.84 kilometers per hour (24.13 mph) within two weeks of the interchange's completion, an increase of 86%.^[9]

Criticism

Criticism on the construction of the C-5–Kalayaan Interchange has been varied, and public reaction has been mixed.^[10] It has been argued that the construction of the interchange led to significant public inconvenience, and criticism of the design has varied from being aesthetically unpleasing to, in the words of Lester Dizon of The Philippine Star, being a "public nuisance".^[11] Another Star columnist, James Deakin, argued that the location of the elevated U-turn slots was ill-conceived, even calling the interchange one of Metro Manila's worst eyesores.^[12] Journalist Korina Sanchez, meanwhile, claimed that the interchange was a PR stunt for Bayani Fernando, who she claims was not used to going unnoticed.^[13]

Senator Francis Escudero meanwhile insinuated that the MMDA focuses too much energy on traffic mitigation instead of flood control, criticizing the opening of the interchange while Metro Manila was affected by flooding caused by Typhoon Emong (Chan-hom) just a few days earlier.^[14]

Structurally, the elevated U-turn slots have been criticized for failing global traffic standards,^[15] even earning protest from a local association of structural engineers who questioned the interchange's safety.^[16]

The C-5–Kalayaan Interchange abuts three constituent Metro Manila local government units, and while the mayors of Pateros and Taguig were supportive of the interchange's construction, claiming that it allows them to better manage traffic in their respective localities,^[5] Makati Mayor Jejomar Binay was opposed.^[16]

References

Road infrastructure in Metro Manila Limited-access roads Epifanio de los Santos Avenue Manila–Cavite Expressway Metro Manila Skyway Muntinlupa–Cavite Expressway NAIA Expressway North Luzon Expressway South Luzon Expressway Numbered routes C-1 C-2 C-3 C-4 C-5 C-6 R-1 R-2 R-3 R-4 R-5 R-6 R-7 R-8 R-9 R-10 Provincial highways AH26 Aguinaldo Highway Batasan–San Mateo Road Daang Hari Road MacArthur Highway Marikina–Infanta Highway Ortigas Avenue Quirino Highway Sumulong Highway Major interchanges C-5–Kalayaan Interchange C-5–Ortigas Interchange Estrella Flyover Magallanes Interchange Ortigas Interchange Bridges Ayala Bridge Estrella–Pantaleon Bridge Jones Bridge MacArthur Bridge Mabini Bridge Quezon Bridge San Juan River Bridge Roundabouts Anda Circle Monumento Elliptical Road Philippines–Thailand Friendship Circle Remedios Circle Welcome Rotonda Planned Laguna Lakeshore Expressway Dike Metro Manila Skybridge North Luzon East Expressway Pasig River Expressway R-7 Expressway Under construction NAIA Expressway   Streets of Metro Manila Capital District Abad Santos Avenue Adriatico Street Blumentritt Road Bonifacio Drive Del Pilar Street Escolta Street España Boulevard Hidalgo Street Jose Laurel Street Kalaw Avenue Lacson Avenue Legarda Street Magsaysay Boulevard Marcos Road Mendiola Street Pablo Ocampo Street Padre Burgos Avenue Padre Faura Street Pedro Gil Street Pureza Street Quezon Boulevard Quirino Avenue Ramon Papa Street Recto Avenue Rizal Avenue Roxas Boulevard Taft Avenue Tayuman Street United Nations Avenue Victorino Mapa Street Zobel Roxas Street Eastern Manila District ADB Avenue Andres Bonifacio Avenue Anonas Street Aurora Boulevard Balete Drive Batasan Road Betty Go-Belmonte Street Boni Avenue Bonny Serrano Avenue Commonwealth Avenue Elliptical Road Gilmore Avenue Gregorio Araneta Avenue Juan Ruiz Street Julia Vargas Avenue Kamuning Road Katipunan Avenue Meralco Avenue Mindanao Avenue North Avenue Ortigas Avenue Pioneer Street Quezon Avenue Regalado Highway Roosevelt Avenue San Miguel Avenue Shaw Boulevard Timog Avenue Tomas Morato Avenue Southern Manila District Alabang–Zapote Road Amorsolo Street Andrews Avenue Arnaiz Avenue Ayala Avenue Chino Roces Avenue Diego Cera Avenue Domestic Road Doña Soledad Avenue Dr. Santos Avenue Elpidio Quirino Avenue Estrella Street Gil Puyat Avenue Harrison Avenue J.P. Rizal Avenue Jose Diokno Boulevard Kalayaan Avenue Lawton Avenue Macapagal Boulevard Makati Avenue McKinley Road NAIA Road Nicanor Garcia Street Ninoy Aquino Avenue Paseo de Roxas South Avenue Tramo Street CAMANAVA District Letre Road Maysan Road North Bay Boulevard Samson Road