Brace for heavy traffic, QC motorists told

Motorists pass by the Batasan Station construction site of the MRT 7 along Commonwealth in Quezon City.—GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

Starting today, Quezon City motorists should adjust by at least an hour their travel schedule as construction works begin on the North Avenue segment of the Metro Rail Transit 7 (MRT 7).

Jojo Garcia, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority’s (MMDA) assistant general manager for planning, said motorists would have to sacrifice a little more as two lanes of North Avenue, from Veterans to Agham Road, would be closed off to traffic starting at 6 p.m. on Saturday.

To avoid being caught in traffic, he advised motorists to allot at least an hour more in going to their destinations.

The MRT 7, which will connect Quezon City to San Juan del Monte in Bulacan province, will become operational next year.

Two lanes closed

The closure of the two innermost lanes in both directions of the Veterans to Agham Road portion is the first of six phases in the construction of the guideway for the MRT 7’s North Avenue segment. The next phases will cover Mindanao Avenue and Edsa.

The MMDA on Friday provided three alternate routes which motorists can take to avoid getting stuck in traffic. For those coming from North Avenue, they can turn left at Mindanao Avenue then right at Road 3, left at Road 8, right at Visayas Avenue, right at Quezon Memorial Circle (QMC), right at Commonwealth Avenue to their destination. From Mindanao Avenue, motorists can also take Congressional Avenue then right at Luzon Avenue to Commonwealth Avenue to their destination and vice versa.

From Quezon Avenue, motorists can turn right at QMC, right at Commonwealth Avenue to destination and vice versa. From Edsa or V. Luna, motorists can take East Avenue to QMC, right at Commonwealth Avenue to destination and vice versa.

Meanwhile, several roads in Quezon City and Caloocan City will be closed off to traffic from 11 p.m. on Friday until 5 a.m. on Monday as the Department of Public Works and Highways conduct road repairs.

Works will be done on the middle and inner lanes of the southbound portion of A. Bonifacio Avenue, from Bulusan Street to Calavite Street.

Alternate routes

Motorists are advised to take alternate routes as the northbound portion of the following roads will also undergo repairs: Visayas Avenue, in front of the National Food Authority, inner lane; Edsa, from Howmart to Oliveros, fifth lane; Congressional Avenue Extension, Miranilla Gate, third lane; Bonifacio Monument, Caloocan City; C.P. Garcia Avenue, from P. Castañeda Street to Pook Aguinaldo, second lane; Congressional Avenue, from Edsa to Cagayan, first lane; and Quirino Highway near Sacred Heart of Jesus, inner lane. –By: Jovic Yee