THE Quezon City Police District (QCPD) will implement a traffic rerouting scheme during the fourth State of the Nation Address (Sona) of President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday, July 22.
QCPD Director Brigadier General Joselito Esquivel advised the public, especially the motorists, to take alternative routes as heavy traffic is expected particularly on the roads leading to and from the House of Representatives in Batasan where the event annually takes place.
He said protest actions will also affect the traffic in the vicinity of the House of Representatives, particularly along the Commonwealth Avenue and IBP road, which will be occupied by pro- and anti-government protesters.
Esquivel said by 12:01 midnight of July 22, the entire stretch of Commonwealth Avenue, both lanes, will be cleared and illegally parked vehicles will be towed.
He said the northbound of Commonwealth Avenue will be closed from Home Depot to Sandiganbayan U-turn slot, while the opposite lane will remain open for motorists going to and from the Quezon City Circle. The said lanes are where the anti-government protesters will stage a rally.
The eastbound lane of IBP road starting from Filinvest 1 up to Sinagtala will also be closed for traffic to give way for pro-government demonstrators.
At 2:30 p.m. of July 22, light vehicles from Quezon City Circle going to Fairview may take North Avenue, turn right to Mindanao Avenue, turn right to Old Sauyo Road, turn left to Chestnut St., turn right to Dahlia St., turn left to Fairlane St. then exit to Commonwealth Ave. to destination.
Meanwhile, light vehicles from Fairview going to Quezon City Circle may turn right to Fairlane St., turn right to Dahlia St., turn left to Chestnut St., turn right to Old Sauyo Road, turn right to Mindanao Avenue, take U-turn at corner Quirino Highway to Mindanao Avenue, left turn to North Avenue to destination.
Esquivel said heavy vehicles will not be allowed in the alternate routes and should take Commonwealth Avenue.
Light vehicles may also take a right turn to Regalado Avenue, right turn to Old Sauyo Road, turn right to Mindanao Avenue, take U-turn at Quirino Highway to Mindanao Avenue, left turn to North Avenue to Quezon City Circle to destination, while for vehicles along the circle, they may take right turn to North Avenue, right turn to Mindanao Avenue, right turn to Old Sauyo Road or Quirino Highway to destination.
At 4 p.m., the entire stretch of IBP Road may be locked down for traffic and all light vehicles will take alternate route from Quezon City Circle to Filinvest 1 & 2, Barangay Bagong Silangan and some inner portions of Barangay Batasan Hills shall take zipper lane at the island breaker in front of Home Depot U-turn slot and take inner lanes.
The end of the zipper lane is at the breaker of Sandiganbayan U-turn slot, then right turn on Litex Payatas Road, right turn on Abris St., right turn on bougainvillea St., right turn to Lower Jasmin St., right turn to Ilang Ilang St., left turn to Santan St., left to Sampaguita St., left turn to Violago Road and meters away right turn and enter the gate 3 of Filinvest 2, to Barangay Bagong Silangan just follow Violago Road.
Esquivel said there is an agreement between with Filinvest 1 and 2 that motorists will be allowed to pass by their subdivision to reach the Batasan-San Mateo Road, then enter Kagawad St., right turn to resolution St., right turn to Senatorial St., right turn to Sinagtala St., left turn to Masbate or Cotabato St., left turn to Filinvest 1 Road and enter gate of Filivest 1 subdivision.
Light vehicles going to Filinvest 2, San Mateo Rizal and Marikina City may take alternate route from Commonwealth-Sandigan, turn right on Sinagtala St., turn right on Senatorial St., turn left on Resolution St., left turn on Kagawad Road then right turn on Batasan San Mateo Road.
After the Sona, by 6 p.m. Monday, July 22, only the westbound lane of IBP Road leading to Sandiganbayan underpass/tunnel shall be opened for VIPs exiting from Southgate of HOR going to Commonwealth Ave.
But the westbound lane from Litex to HOR Southgate will remain closed until further notice.
“We are appealing for the understanding and patience of those who will be affected by the heavy traffic on Monday. The rerouting advisory may help motorists to find or take alternative routes. It would also be best advised for those who have no much important transaction to just stay home, if possible until after the Sona,” said Esquivel. (SunStar Philippines)