THE Department of Transportation (DOTr) announced the temporary closure of certain sections of North EDSA starting Sunday evening to facilitate the construction of the MRT-7 project.
The affected lanes span from Landmark–Trinoma to the Unified Grand Central Station, where turnback girder launching activities will take place.
The closure schedule is as follows:
- Northbound (Balintawak): Two lanes closed from February 1 to May 8; full closure from 10:00 pm to 4:00 am, February 11 to March 10.
- Southbound (Cubao): Two lanes closed from February 22 to May 18; full closure from 10:00 pm to 4:00 am, March 11 to March 23.
Officials stated that the lane closures are necessary to install tower supports that will hold the steel box girders. Concrete barriers and anchor bolts are being installed to ensure the safety of the construction site. An MRT consultant warned that traffic buildup could begin as early as 5:00 a.m. and recommended that motorists take alternative routes.
Some commuters expressed concerns about the impact on their travel times. Reggie Sangueza, for example, anticipates that his commute will increase from 40 minutes to over an hour.
The MRT-7 project is currently 83% complete and is scheduled to begin partial operations in the first half of 2027. Once finished, the 22-kilometer line with 14 stations from North Avenue, QC, to San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, is expected to expedite travel and alleviate traffic on Commonwealth Avenue and other major roads.
