No turning back: MMDA plans closure of EDSA U-turns

by Elton Gagni / September 23, 2020

Over the years, heavy traffic has been one of the many pains of travelling in metro cities, particularly in Metro Manila. Since the lockdown was instituted due to the ongoing pandemic, roads have freed up. But as restrictions relaxed, it allowed work to continue, bringing back a slightly normal traffic situation, especially along EDSA, including road constructions.

One of the many recent public developments is the creation of a dedicated lane for buses. According to Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Spokesperson Celian Pialago, this planned improvement will impact 13 U-turn slots along EDSA, which stretches along four major cities including Caloocan, Quezon, Makati, and Pasay.

While there is no confirmed date yet as to when construction and closures will begin, the MMDA identified the following U-turn slots that will be affected once plans push through:

Caloocan City

U-turn Slots Affected:

• General Tinio U-turn Slot
• De Jesus Street/8th street left-turning
• General Malvar U-turn slot

Alternate Routes:

• Northbound towards southbound – Take a turn at Monumento Circle
• Southbound towards northbound – Take a turn at Balintawak Cloverleaf
• Vehicles coming from North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) towards A. De Jesus/8th Street must go straight or take A. Bonifacio Avenue and turn right at C3/Sgt. Rivera

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Quezon City

U-turn Slots Affected:

• Balintawak Market U-turn slot in front of BPI bank
• Kaingin Road U-turn slot in front of Nissan
• Congressional LRT Station U-turn slot in front of PANORAMA
• Corregidor intersection / Bansalangin U-turn slots
• U-turn slots in front of Quezon City Academy
• North Avenue U-turn slots before MRT North Avenue Station
• Santolan/Boni Serrano U-turn slot in front of Camp Crame

Alternate Routes:

• Northbound towards southbound – Take a U-turn at Balintawak Cloverleaf
• Southbound towards northbound – Take a U-turn at Quezon Avenue
• Vehicles coming from White Plains – Go through the service road/intersection under the Santolan flyover and make a U-turn (for Santolan/Boni Serrano U-turn slot)

Makati City

U-turn Slots Affected:

• Buendia U-turn slot under the Kalayaan Flyover

Alternate Route:

• Southbound towards northbound – Those from Guadalupe using Buendia U-turn slot must take a U-turn using the EDSA-Ayala Avenue service road/intersection

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Pasay City

U-turn Slots Affected:

• P.Celle U-turn slots
• U-turn slot before Roxas Boulevard near Heritage Hotel

Alternate Route:

• Northbound towards southbound – Those coming from FB Harrison must go under Magallanes flyover U-turn slot
• Southbound to northbound – Take the signalized intersection or SM Mall of Asia Circle.

MMDA will be releasing an advisory a week before these take effect. Closure of the aforementioned U-turn slots will reportedly improve the flow of traffic and make travel time faster for buses traversering EDSA.

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