MMDA to relocate 2 U-turn slots this weekend

MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia. INQUIRER.net file photo / CATHY MIRANDA

MANILA, Philippines — The U-turn slots located along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City and C5 Road-South Luzon Expressway will be relocated this weekend, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) announced Thursday.

In a press briefing, MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia said the U-turn slot in Commonwealth in front of CW Home Depot will be relocated near Tandang Sora and Luzon flyover on 12:00 a.m. Sunday, June 30.

The Don Antonio U-turn slot will also be opened for light vehicles.

Garcia said the move is meant to give way to the construction of the tunnel guide way for Metro Rail Transit Line 7 (MRT-7), and also in preparation for President Rodrigo Duterte’s 4th State of the Nation Address (Sona) in July 22.

The adjustment is also expected to cause heavy traffic in the area, affecting 10,000 motorists using the U-turn slot on a daily basis.

“Anything na mabago sa kalsada is magca-cause ng pagkalito at traffic. Ang ma-aapektuhan po dito ay 10,000 per day,” Garcia said.

On the other hand, the existing U-turn slot located before the tollgate of C5-SLEX will be relocated in front of the Heritage Park Gate Mortuary in Taguig City.

This move is in preparation for the construction of a ramp of C5 Manila-Cavite Expressway (Cavitex) flyover located along SLEX linking C5 Road in Taguig and C5 Extension of the cities of Pasay and Taguig, Garcia said.

“The flyover would cut the travel time from C5 Road going to southern areas in the metro like Las Piñas and Parañaque cities. But there is a need to build a ramp before the flyover could be opened,” the MMDA official noted.

For this adjustment, more than 8,000 vehicles from Bonifacio Global City to Kalayaan and about 2,500 along SLEX will be affected. (Editor: Jonathan P. Vicente)