Tandang Sora Flyover to be Closed to Traffic for Creation of MRT-7 station, Other Components

The Tandang Sora Flyover and intersection will be closed soon for other components of the Metro Rail Transit 7 (MR-T) project to be finished.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) announced recently that starting February 23, 11 PM, the four-lane Tandang Sora flyover and intersection along Commonwealth Avenue will be closed temporarily for the Tandang Sora station of the said project to be constructed.

Aside from the station, the closure is also for the construction of an elevated guide way and a pocket track for the MRT-7.

MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia revealed that the closure will be for the next two years and would affect more than 100,000 motorists traveling along Commonwealth Avenue and 2,000-3,000 motorists using the Tandang Sora intersection daily.

The affected motorists will be diverted to a temporary U-turn slot 500 meters away from the Tandang Sora intersection.

MMDA proposes Elevated U-Turn

Knowing that the closure would result in a heavy traffic jam, Garcia said that they have proposed for the creation of an elevated U-turn slot in the area to help alleviate traffic at choke points along the busy avenue where the MRT-7 is being constructed.

"I have instructed Director Neomie Recio to visit the site and study where the elevated U-turn can be erected," said Garcia, referring to the MMDA's Traffic Engineering Center head.

Once approved, the proposed elevated U-turn slot, made of steel, can be erected within three months, Garcia said.

"While waiting for the construction of the elevated U-turn slot, motorists have to use (the) temporary U-turn slot in the area," said Garcia.

To guide the motorists, the MMDA will deploy 154 personnel while the local government of Quezon City will also deploy at least 100 flagmen along Commonwealth Avenue.

Earlier reports told that a new rerouting scheme was made to address the possible heavy traffic situation in the Balintawak area for the construction of Skyway Stage 3. Apart from that, the construction for the United Grand Central Station is already taking place in EDSA particularly in between Trinoma and SM North Edsa.