By Dhel Nazario
Effective next week, the Tandang Sora flyover and intersection on Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City will be closed to pave way for the construction of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) 7, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) announced on Thursday.
(Gelo Villarba Asuncion via Facebook / MANILA BULLETIN)
Affected motorists are advised to be more patient as heavy traffic is expected in Quezon City beginning 11 p.m. of February 23.
The four-lane Tandang Sora flyover and intersection will be shut down for the next two years for the construction of Tandang Sora MRT Station, an elevated guideway, and a pocket track for the MRT-7 said MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia in a press briefing held at MMDA headquarters in Makati City Thursday.
The closure will affect more than 100,000 motorists traveling along Commonwealth Avenue and 2,000-3,000 motorists using the Tandang Sora intersection daily.
Affected motorists will be diverted to a temporary U-turn slot 500 meters away from the Tandang Sora intersection.
Acknowledging the traffic chaos the closure would cause, Garcia said the MMDA proposed the idea of putting up an elevated U-turn slot in the area to help alleviate traffic at choke points along the busy avenue where the MRT 7 is being constructed.
“I have instructed Director Neomie (Traffic and Engineering Center Director Neomie Recio) to visit the site and study where the elevated U-turn can be erected,” said Garcia.
Garcia said the proposed elevated U-turn slot, made of steel, can be erected within three months.
“While waiting for the construction of the elevated U-turn slot, motorists have to use temporary U-turn slot in the area,” said Garcia.
To guide the motorists, the MMDA will deploy 154 personnel while the local government of Quezon City will also deploy at least 100 flagmen along Commonwealth Avenue.