The construction of Katipunan Avenue Extension which is expected to decongest traffic along Commonwealth Avenue is 70 percent complete.
The new alignment or road along the extension will provide an alternative route to vehicles from San Mateo, Rizal going to C-5 in Katipunan. Around 10,000 vehicles daily are expected to benefit from the project.
“Yung lahat ng nanggagaling sa Rizal, Marikina, imbes na dumaan pa sa Commonwealth, pwede nang dumaan dito sa bypass so makakaluwag sa traffic (Those coming from Rizal, Marikina may use the bypass [road] instead of Commonwealth to avoid heavy traffic),” Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Sec. Mark Villar said.
“It’s about 5.7 kilometers ang haba and ang savings sa travel time 30 to 45 minutes from Taytay to Quezon City (It’s about 5.7 kilometers long and the savings in travel time is 30 to 45 minutes from Taytay to Quezon City),” Villar added.
The plan has been included in the masterplan to decongest EDSA. It was started by the DPWH last 2019 and is targeted to service the public this year.
The extension will start from UP Town along Katipunan, turning to H. Ventura, and will pass through Loyola Grand Villas, Capitol Homes, Vista Real Subdivision, Northview Subdivision exiting Batasan. However, convincing home owners of the said subdivisions will be a challenge.
“At first they were all hesitant because it’s a private subdivision… We built mga subdivision mga gate, mga (We built subdivision gates and) additional gates to protect home owners. Eventually, they welcomed it because it shortens [travel] time for everyone,” Sta. Lucia Marketing Pres. Liezel Magpoc shared. – Report from Karen Villanda