The Quezon City government expects its Green Open Reclaimed Access (GORA) Lane project to be completed by January 2021.

This was disclosed by Mayor Joy Belmonte as she stressed that the 5.39-kilometer pedestrian corridor project will help enhance walking experience and boost economic activity.

“We expect the project to be more than 70 percent completed by end of December and 100 percent by January 2021,” Belmonte said.

The GORA Lane, which passes through Doña Hemady Avenue, Scout Tobias Street, and Mother Ignacia Avenue, provides residents with access to three major roads — Aurora Blvd., Quezon Avenue and EDSA.

It will also connect major transport hubs, namely LRT-Gilmore Station, MRT-GMA Kamuning Station, and MRT-Quezon Avenue Station.

“The project will greatly benefit the general public especially now that we have limited transportation and limited mobility due to the pandemic. Part of our 14-point agenda is to promote sustainable development, interconnectivity and reduce air pollution. We stand firm on our commitment to make our place a walkable and bikeable city,” said Belmonte.

The development can also help enhance economic activity by connecting commercial areas such as Gilmore, Robinsons Magnolia, Tomas Morato and Timog, she added.

According to Landscape Architect Irene Morales, Special Operations Officer II of Parks Development and Administration Department, the project was solicited by the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) in 2018 though a budget circular on “Green, Green, Green” program, a parallel program of the national government’s “Build, Build, Build” Program.

Quezon City’s proposal was among the applications approved for funding by the DBM from more than 130 cities, which also include Davao, Antipolo, Makati and Manila.

The project includes the creation of wider sidewalks and pocket parks with better lighting, wayfinding signage, planting strip and public art installations to make the streets more walkable for the public.

Before commencing with the project in 2018, Morales said the city government first met with the stakeholders and addressed all their concerns.

The local government had another round of meeting with them on Nov. 16, 2020 where they ironed out additional issues regarding the project, including the installation of additional safety barriers and traffic warning devices during construction.

Mayor Belmonte likewise assuaged their fears of traffic congestion since the width of roads are well within the DPWH Highway Design standard of at least 3.35 meters per lane when the project is completed.

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