DOTr, SMC officials break ground on MRT-7’s turnback guideway along West Ave. in Quezon City

OFFICIALS of the Department of Transportation, San Miguel Corp. and the Quezon City government broke ground on Metro Rail Transit Line-7’s elevated turnback guideway along West Avenue in Quezon City Friday.

DOTr assistant secretary for railways Jorjette Aquino said the turnback guideway would allow MRT-7 trains to revert directions upon terminating at the North Triangle Common Station on North Ave.

“This portion of the alignment is critical to ensuring that train services would remain on schedule across the entire alignment from North Avenue to San Jose del Monte,” Aquino said.

The DOTr expects the completion of the MRT 7 project by the second quarter of 2025.

Aquino commended the initiatives of the Quezon City LGU for redesigning West Ave., given the expanse of physical space needed for the pillars of the turnback guideway.

“This pre-construction works’ program will guarantee the least possible disruption in the travel experience of both pedestrians and road users along West Avenue while the MRT 7 infrastructure is in place,” she said.

MRT-7, with 14 stations, will provide a smooth travel experience to about 800,000 daily commuters from San Jose del Monte City in Bulacan to North Ave. in Quezon City, cutting down travel time from the usual two to three hours to 35 minutes.

“With the completion of other key railway projects such as the Metro Manila Subway, North South Commuter Railway, LRT 1 Cavite Extension and the MRT-4, commuting between Quezon City and the rest of the Metro Manila, and even to and from the nearby provinces will be more comfortable, accessible, safe, sustainable and affordable,” Aquino said.

“Let us all work toward sustaining the exponential resurgence of the Philippine railway industry as we move full speed ahead and endeavor to Build, Better and More,” she said.

The project will have stations at North Ave., Quezon Memorial Circle; University Ave.; Tandang Sora Ave., Don Antonio, Batasan, Manggahan, Dona Carmen, Regalado, Mindanao Ave., Quirino, Sacred Heart, Tala and San Jose del Monte.

It can accommodate 300,000 passengers in its first year of operations and 850,000 passengers daily in its 12th year.

The project is an integrated transit system undertaken and fully-funded by San Miguel Corp. under a Build-Gradual Transfer-Operate, Maintain and Manage scheme.