Quezon City, DPWH start Commonwealth Road extension project

MANILA, Philippines - The Quezon City government said yesterday its officials’ dream of linking Commonwealth Avenue and Quirino Highway, two of the city’s busiest roads in District 2, has finally come true.    

Mayor Feliciano Belmonte Jr. joined Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Hermogenes Ebdane in a groundbreaking ceremony to start the construction of the Commonwealth Avenue extension project, which Belmonte described “as the last major infrastructure project” he wants to accomplish before his term as chief city executive ends on June 30 next year.

 “This is the best project we could possibly have. It felt good to be mayor when all dynamic forces are converging,” Belmonte said.

He said the project, which is expected to be completed in seven months, will definitely change the face of Novaliches. 

To date, Commonwealth Avenue is the city’s widest and busiest thoroughfare. It bisects the northern half of Quezon City and goes all the way to the city’s boundary with Caloocan City.  

The DPWH and the Quezon City government agreed to share the cost of acquiring the 18,624 square-meter Phinma property in Barangay Kaligayahan to facilitate the implementation of the project.

With the road right-of-way valued at P140 million, the city government committed P20 million to the DPWH as its share for the acquisition of the property. 

Belmonte said the city government had established close partnership with the DPWH for the construction and completion of national road projects that will make city travel easier and faster.