MANILA (UPDATED) - The Department of Transportation (DOTr) and its contractor announced the closure of parts of Mindanao Avenue in Quezon City, and the opening of corresponding diversion roads, to give way to the start of the construction of the Tandang Sora Station of the Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP). 

In a press conference at the MMDA office in Pasig City on Friday, Engr. Antonio Aganon Jr., chief engineer and civil deputy manager of Shimizu-Fujita-Takenaka-EEI Joint Venture, the private contractor of the MMSP contract package 101 said the road closure will start on midnight of January 12 and expected to last until 2028. 

”In order for us para magawa po itong Tandang Sora station box is we need to divert…yung traffic on both lanes- northbound and southbound,” Aganon said. 

MMDA chairman Don Artes confirmed this in a social media post Saturday. 

"Inanunsyo ng Department of Transportation ang pagsasara ng Mindanao Avenue hanggang Tandang Sora simula madaling araw ng Enero 12 para mabigyang daan ang konstruksyon ng Metro Manila Subway Project Phase 1," he said. "Sa ibaba ng Mindanao Avenue ang konstruksyon ng Tandang Sora Station Box kaya kinakailangang mai-divert ang trapiko sa south at northbound. Ang road closure ay magtatagal hanggang 2028."

Artes clarified that there are diversion roads that will serve as alternate routes for motorists.  

“I think hindi naman masyadong maapektuhan yung traffic wala po dapat ikabahala yung ating mga kababayan kahit matagal ito gagawin dahil meron naman pong ginawang diversion road of equal lane dun sa isinara,” Artes explained. 

 Based on vehicle volume count conducted by the private contractor, Aganon said, an estimated 100,000 vehicles are using the southbound lane of Mindanao Avenue everyday and another 70,000 on the northbound lane. 

 The private contractor and the DOTr assured that there are enough road signages to guide affected motorists.