DOTr breaks ground for bike lane expansion project in Quezon City

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for its 2-kilometer-long Class 1 bike lane extension project located on the Elliptical Road in Quezon City. Being a Class 1 lane, this is a shared-use pathway for both bikes and pedestrians. 

The DOTr and the Quezon City government break ground for the class 1 bike lane extension project for the Elliptical Road in QC

This groundbreaking ceremony likewise signals the start of construction for 10 additional public utility vehicle stops (PUV), as well as the repair of sidewalks alongside the Elliptical Road and on Commonwealth Avenue. 

All-in-all, these projects will be completed in the first quarter of 2024. According to the DOTr, these will benefit around 3 million Quezon City residents upon their completion. 

Present during the ceremony were several public officials and executives. This includes DOTr Secretary Jaime Bautista and Quezon City Mayor Josefina “Joy” Belmonte. 

Concerning the new infrastructure projects, Bautista said “We want to emphasize the safety of cyclists. We want to ensure cycling is a safe mode of daily travel, no longer just for leisure.”

“We are grateful to the representatives from different government agencies and civic organizations who inspire us to pursue and sustain this important program. I have no doubt Quezon City can still attain next level growth with healthy residents who have taken the lead in adopting cycling as a new lifestyle,” Bautista added.  

Once finished, these projects will benefit around 3 million QC residents [Photo: Google]

Mayor Belmonte meanwhile, thanked the DOTr for spearheading these projects. She also expressed that safer walkable roads for all Quezon City citizens have been a long-time wish of her office. Thanks to the partnership with DOTr, this “pivotal initiative” is slowly becoming a reality. 

Note that these projects have been in the pipeline for quite some time now. If one remembers, the DOTr announced its intent to add more bike lanes in Quezon City a year ago. Just last month, the agency doubled down on the bike lane expansion initiative by providing it with a proposed Php 500 million budget. According to news sources, this has since been approved by the Department of Budget and Management. 

For more car news and automotive industry updates, keep it here on Philkotse.