Commonwealth zipper lane to stay ‘until further notice’

The zipper lane put up along Commonwealth Avenue would remain in place until further notice as it was expected to ease traffic when more vehicles use the thoroughfare after the holidays, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said on Sunday.

In Dano Tingcungco's "24 Oras Weekend"  report, MMDA spokesperson Celine Pialago explained that the dry run of the zipper lane, which started on Saturday, January 2 and implemented from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m., had been successful so far.

"So far, okay naman po 'yung zipper lane, magtatagal po 'yan until further notice dahil po hindi na kakayanin ng Quezon City Government na 'yung traffic po ay hanggang Sandigan during office hours," said Pialago.

"Bumabalk na ho tayo sa normal na bilang ng sasakyan na dumadaan sa major thoroughfares, with the ongoing construction sa may North Avenue, under EEI, nagbubuntis po 'yung traffic."

She was referring to EEI Corp., the contractor of the Metro Rail Transit Line 7 (MRT7) which connects Quezon City and Bulacan.

At present, the zipper lane has two entrances -- one at Luzon Avenue-Tandand Sora Avenue; and another in front of the UP-Ayala Technohub.

The zipper lane ends at the corner of Commonwealth Avenue eastbound and University Avenue leading to the University of the Philippines Diliman.

"Noong wala pa pong zipper lane, ang complaint na natatanggap namin sa MMDA alone, 'yung Sandigan ho hanggang Quezon City Circle alone, inaabot ho ng isang oras, worst po isang oras at kalahati, so 'yan pong sistema diyan, kailangan pong bigyang pansin, hindi pwedeng 'yung rush hour natin kumain pa ng isang oras ng mga pribadong motorista at commuters natin," said Pialago. — Jon Viktor Cabuenas/DVM, GMA News