MANILA — Motorists should expect heavy traffic as the existing U-turn slot along Commonwealth Avenue near the Philippine Coconut Authority (PCA) in Quezon City will be closed starting Thursday, March 29, to give way to the construction of the Metro Rail Transit Line 7 (MRT-7).
This, as the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) released Monday its traffic management plan to be implemented along Commonwealth Avenue and Elliptical Road.
MMDA Acting General Manager Jojo Garcia advised motorists to use the Elliptical Road going back to Commonwealth Avenue eastbound direction, during a press conference at its main office in Guadalupe, Makati City.
The U-turn slot is set to reopen in August 2018.
Private contractors will likewise occupy two inner lanes of Commonwealth Avenue-Philcoa on both northbound and southbound directions.
The MMDA and private contractors have agreed to remove obstructions on the outer portions of Commonwealth Avenue to widen the remaining lines.
The agency will also install plastic barriers on Maharlika Street that will serve as separators to prevent vehicles going to Commonwealth Avenue from swerving into other lanes, causing traffic build-up along Elliptical Road.
“We are glad private contractors are coordinating with us to make the necessary adjustments to ease the expected traffic build-up in the area caused by the ongoing MRT 7 construction,” Garcia said.
In its traffic advisory, the MMDA said vehicles traversing Elliptical Road going to Visayas and North Avenue area should stay at the left lane while vehicles going to Commonwealth Avenue should stay at the right lane.
Vehicles from Masaya Street going to Commonwealth Avenue should turn right to Maharlika Street, turn right to Elliptical Road and right to Commonwealth Avenue.
Those going to Visayas and North Avenue must turn left to Maharlika Street; right to Mayaman Street; right to Kalayaan Avenue and right to Elliptical Road.
Vehicles from Elliptical-Kalayaan Junction to Commonwealth Avenue should stay on the right lanes while those going to Visayas and North Avenue must stay at left lanes.
Vehicles coming from Commonwealth Avenue south bound should take Elliptical Road going to Commonwealth Avenue.
At least 2,115 vehicles pass through Elliptical Road to Visayas and North Avenue during morning rush hours while vehicles from Elliptical Road going to Commonwealth Avenue reach 4,120 during the same period.
The MRT Line 7 is a 22.8-km railway line that will consist of 14 stations traversing from North Avenue to San Jose del Monte in Bulacan province once it is completed. (Aerol John Pateña with reports from Micosha Anne De Guzman-OJT/PNA)
