MANILA — The Quezon City Police District (QCPD) advised motorists to take alternate routes as certain sections of Commonwealth Avenue will be closed in line with President Rodrigo Duterte’s third State of the Nation Address (SONA) before a joint session of Congress on Monday.
QCPD director, Chief Supt. Joselito Esquivel Jr., said heavy traffic is expected particularly on roads leading to and from the Batasang Pambansa Complex.
“As in previous SONA experiences, we have identified alternate routes for motorists who will be most likely be affected by the traffic congestions due to activities and mass demonstrations of cause-oriented groups particularly along Commonwealth Avenue,” Esquivel said in a statement Sunday.
He said there will be zipper or counterflow lanes on some portions of Commonwealth Avenue to give way to vehicles of government officials and foreign dignitaries entering and exiting the Batasang Pambansa Complex.
The following roads will be closed in line with the SONA on Monday and motorist are advised to take the following alternate routes:
By 12:01 a.m. Monday, Commonwealth Ave., north bound shall be partially closed from Toyota Commonwealth to Sandiganbayan U-turn slot.
South-bound lanes of Commonwealth Avenue will remain open. Starting 6 a.m., motorists coming from Quezon Memorial Circle (QMC) going to Fairview shall take the zipper lane at the island breaker in front of Home Depot U-turn slot and take inner lanes. The end and exit point of the zipper lane is at the island breaker at Sandiganbayan U-turn slot.
Likewise, motorists coming from Fairview going to QMC shall take the usual southbound route.
On Monday noon, the entire westbound lane of IBP Road (from Litex to Sandiganbayan) will be closed to motorists.
Vehicles coming from Filinvest 1, Sinagtala, San Mateo Road, and Filinvest 2 going to Fairview and Commonwealth Avenue may take the east-bound lane of IBP Road and exit to Litex.
At 2:30 p.m., light vehicles coming from QMC going to Fairview may take North Avenue, turn right at Mindanao Avenue, turn right at Old Sauyo Road, turn left at Chestnut Street, turn right at Dahlia Street, turn left at Fairlane Street, then exit at Commonwealth Avenue.
Heavy vehicles should use Commonwealth Ave.
Light vehicles from Fairview going to QMC may turn right at Fairlane Street, turn right at Dahlia Street, turn left at Chestnut Street, turn right at Old Sauyo Road, turn right at Mindanao Avenue, take U-turn at corner Quirino Highway at Mindanao Avenue (Southbound) left turn North Avenue at QMC and to destination.
Another alternate route is to make right turn at Regalado Avenue, right turn at Old Sauyo Road, right turn at Mindanao Avenue take U-turn at Quirino Highway to Mindanao Avenue (Southbound) left turn North Avenue at QMC to destination.
Vehicles going to Fairview from QMC may make right turn at North Avenue, right turn at Mindanao Avenue, right turn at Old Sauyo Road or Quirino Highway to destination.
Another alternate route from QMC, make right turn at Visayas Avenue, left turn at Congressional Avenue right turn at Mindanao Avenue, right turn at Old Sauyo or Quirino Highway to destination.
At 6 p.m., only westbound lane of IBP Road leading to Sandiganbayan underpass shall be opened from the South Gate of House of Representatives going to Commonwealth Avenue.
However, the westbound lane from House of Representative South Gate to Litex will remain closed until further notice.
“Ngayon pa lang po, ay humihingi na kami ng paumanhin at mahabang pasensiya sa mga maaapektuhan ng traffic sa Lunes. Kaya po inaabisuhan natin sila, particular ang mga motorista na maghanap o gamitin ang mga alternatibong ruta. Yun naman pong hindi napaka importante o maipagpapaliban ang kanilang lakad ay pinapayuhan po naming manatili na lang muna sa kanilang mga bahay. (As early as now, we want to apologize for the inconvenience caused by the heavy traffic on Monday. We are advising motorists to take alternate routes. Meanwhile, we ask those who do not have any urgent business outside to stay at home),” Esquivel said. (Christopher Lloyd Caliwan/PNA)
