Gov’t postpones Tandang Sora flyover closure to March 2

Aika Rey

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Gov’t postpones Tandang Sora flyover closure to March 2

MARIA TAN

(3rd UPDATE) The Department of Transportation agrees to a one-week postponement of the closure of the Tandang Sora flyover and intersection to 'strengthen public awareness and to manage traffic situation in the area'

MANILA, Philippines (3rd UPDATE) – The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has agreed to postpone the scheduled closure of the Tandang Sora flyover and intersection to a week after February 23, the original closure date.

In a statement on Thursday, February 21, DOTr said that it “accedes” to the request of the Quezon City Council which had asked for a one-week postponement of the closure.

The planned two-year closure, originally set to begin at 11 pm on Saturday, February 23, is for the construction of the Metro Rail Transit Line 7 (MRT7) Tandang Sora Station.

While the DOTr granted the Quezon City council’s request to reset the closure date to March 1,  the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) set the closure at 11 pm on March 2.

The Quezon City Council had asked transportation and traffic officials to postpone the closure to March 1, to give local officials more time to inform their constituents about it.

“While we want the construction of the MRT7 to proceed as fast as possible, the DOTr also understands that major adjustments have to be made by residents, commuters, and motorists who will be affected by the said closure.” the DOTr said.

DOTr agreed with the reason for the postponement. “We take this postponement as a period to strengthen public awareness and cooperation for the project, as this would give individuals and agencies ample time to prepare and manage the traffic situation in the area,” it said.

Ramon Ang-led San Miguel Corporation agreed to the postponement too, DOTr said.

Alternate routes

Meanwhile, MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia said that he “recommends” to push back the closure as well, to be able to clear more roads for motorists to use.

“I have instructed the Task Force Special Operations to clear all obstructions in the vicinity of Tandang Sora. Parking, terminals and vending will be prohibited to maximize the roads,” Garcia said in a press briefing on Thursday.

During the closure, two temporary U-turn slots will be opened along Commonwealth Avenue for affected motorists – one across Microtel at UP Technohub and another across CW Home Depot.

Motorists are advised to take the following routes:

  • From Tandang Sora:
    • Turn right at Commonwealth Avenue, take U-turn slot near Microtel, and turn right to Katipunan Avenue to point of destination
  • From Katipunan Avenue:
    • Turn right at Commonwealth Avenue, take U-turn slot near CW Home Depot, and turn right to Tandang Sora to point of destination
    • Motorists may also opt to cross Commonwealth Avenue to Luzon Avenue, turning left to Congressional Avenue Extension to point of destination

Garcia has earlier proposed for the construction of an elevated U-turn slot to help decongest choke points. He said it can be completed within 3 months.

The actual demolition of the Tandang Sora flyover will happen mid-March, Garcia said.

The 23-kilometer MRT7, which will run from North Avenue in Quezon City to San Jose del Monte City in Bulacan, will have 14 train stations. Travel end-to-end is estimated at around 30 minutes.

The DOTr targets the planned MRT7 Tandang Sora Station, along with North Avenue and Mindanao Avenue Stations, to be completed first to allow partial operations.

The MRT7 will be connected to the existing MRT Line 3 and Light Rail Transit Line 1 via a common station along EDSA. – Rappler.com

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Aika Rey

Aika Rey is a business reporter for Rappler. She covered the Senate of the Philippines before fully diving into numbers and companies. Got tips? Find her on Twitter at @reyaika or shoot her an email at aika.rey@rappler.com.