Temporary road closures along North EDSA begin for MRT-7 construction

MANILA, February 2 ------ Temporary road closures along portions of North EDSA began Sunday night to give way to construction activities for the Metro Rail Transit Line 7 (MRT-7), according to the Department of Transportation (DOTr).

In a traffic advisory, the DOTr said lanes between the Landmark–Trinoma area and the Unified Grand Central Station will be closed in phases for the MRT-7 turnback girder launching activity.

CLOSURE SCHEDULE

• Northbound (Toward Balintawak): Two lanes will be closed at all times from February 1 to May 8 for Tower Support No. 2.

A full road closure will also be implemented from 10:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m., starting February 11 until March 10, during the girder launching.

• Southbound (Toward Cubao): Two lanes will be closed from February 22 to May 18 for Tower Support No. 3.

Additionally, full road closures will be enforced from 10:00 p.m. to 4:00 a.m., from March 11 to March 23.

CONSTRUCTION

George Wilbur Colina, safety manager of ATAD Steel Structure Corp., said concrete barriers are being installed to secure the construction site. “Ang Tower Support Number 2 (na tinatawag namin), ang preparation diyan, ilalagay pa lang yung anchor bolt bago ikabit yung tower support doon sa mismong area na pagkakabitan,” Colina said. “So bago ‘yun, meron kaming nilalagay na concrete barrier para hindi mabangga ito,' he added.

Colina said that by 4:00 a.m., essential construction materials are typically already in place. “Mayroon nang concrete barrier, mayroon nang mga formwork, may mga anchor bolt na rin ‘yan. Kaya kailangan ng dalawang lane kasi diyan namin ilalagay ‘yung tower support para hindi babagsak ‘yung box girder,” he added.

MRT consultant Sonny Banaag explained that the lane closures are necessary to install the towers that will temporarily support the steel box girders. “Kailangan isara ‘yung lane kasi maglalagay sila ng tower... para doon initially ipatong ‘yung box girder para mai-connect doon sa kabilang side,” Banaag said. He warned that traffic buildup may start as early as 5:00 a.m. on both sides. “Masusuggest po namin, kung kaya ninyong makadaan sa ibang mas maluwag na daan o makaiwas dito sa ongoing construction, much better para sa ating mga motorista,” he added.

COMMUTER AND MOTORIST CONCERNS

The closures have sparked concerns among regular commuters. UV Express driver Erwin Sorio noted that while drivers can find alternate routes, passengers may suffer. “Siguro sa mga pasahero medyo mahihirapan sila kasi instead na medyo malapit sana ‘yung masasakyan, maglalakad sila nang malayo-layo,” Sorio said.

Restaurant supervisor Reggie Sangueza, who commutes from SM North to Fairview, expects his travel time to increase from 40 minutes to over an hour due to the adjustments. “Siyempre malaking abala kasi ito ‘yung pinakamadaling way namin eh. Kapag nagsara ‘to, ibang way na ‘yung hahanapin namin,” Sangueza said. The temporary closures come as the MRT-7 project marks significant progress.

Transportation officials reported the rail line is about 83 percent complete and remains on track for partial operations in the first half of 2027, as part of efforts to expand public transport capacity in Metro Manila and neighboring Bulacan. 

Once finished, the 22-kilometer line with 14 stations running from North Avenue in Quezon City to San Jose del Monte, Bulacan, is expected to reduce travel times and help ease traffic congestion along Commonwealth Avenue and other major thoroughfares.

Source: news.abs-cbn.com