MMDA braces for heavy traffic due to MRT-7 construction

FILE: Traffic jam on EDSA (Photo By Judgefloro – Own work, CC0)

MANILA — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is advising the public to brace for heavy traffic along North Avenue and nearby roads in Quezon City due to the ongoing construction of the Metro Rail Transit Line 7 (MRT-7).

MMDA will deploy around 20 personnel to manage traffic as construction of the first phase of the MRT-7 occupied the two innermost lanes of North Avenue in both directions from Veteran’s Memorial Medical Center to Agham Road.

The project contractor, EEI Corporation will deploy 16 personnel to augment the traffic personnel of the agency.

“Papaigtingin natin ang pagbabantay sa daloy ng trapiko at sisiguruhin namin na susunod ang contractor at nag-commit sila na 100% na susuportahan nila kami at hindi sila pwede lumampas sa working station without prior notice sa MMDA (We will be stricly monitoring the traffic situation in the area and we will ensure that the contractor will comply. The contractor committed to us 100% that they support us and their personnel will not work beyond their designated area without prior notice from the MMDA),” MMDA spokesperson Celine Pialago said in a television interview Monday.

The MMDA will be clearing North Avenue, Mindanao Avenue, and Agham Road up to Quezon Memorial Circle and Commonwealth Avenue to decongest traffic within the vicinity of the construction.

Motorists are advised to take the following alternate routes:

Vehicles from North Avenue should turn left at Mindanao Avenue, right at Road 8, right at Visayas Avenue, right at Quezon Memorial Circle, then right at Commonwealth Avenue to their destination.Motorists from Mindanao Avenue must turn right at Congressional Avenue, then right at Luzon Avenue to Commonwealth Avenue to destination (vice versa).

Along Quezon Avenue, turn right at Quezon Memorial Circle then right at Commonwealth Avenue to destination (vice versa).

Along East Avenue, from EDSA and/or V. Luna turn right at East Avenue to Quezon Memorial Circle, then right at Commonwealth Avenue to destination (vice versa).

The construction of the MRT-7 in North Avenue which started last Saturday 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 MRT Line 7 is a 22.8 kilometer railway line that will consist of 14 stations traversing from North Avenue to San Jose del Monte in Bulacan province and is expected to be completed by 2019. (PNA)