Short-Cut From EDSA to Quirino

In rush hours (7 to 10 in the morning and 5 to 8 in the evening) heavy traffic along EDSA in Quezon City can create many choke points. A particular concern is the area right in front of SM City and Tri Noma Mall onwards to Balintawak also in Quezon City. What’s one of the best alternative routes to avoid heavy traffic going to Quirino Avenue?

One of the wisest alternative routes is to take the corner of North Avenue and EDSA right between SM City and Tri Noma Mall and head south a bit to Mindanao Avenue. This route may slow down a bit right in the mall areas but past that into Mindanao Avenue is a guaranteed fast lane that will avoid heavy traffic. Aside from the two modern malls showing off commercial grandeur, the ride also gets past a refreshing patch of greenery from the Veterans Memorial Hospital Golf Course at the onset of Mindanao Avenue.

This is one of the alternative routes that offer not only easy and wide access to Quirino Avenue but also worthwhile stop-overs for a snack bite or cooling soda to refresh one from an exhausting long drive. There is the Mercury Drug Center, Tropical Hut, and a KFC outlet. Not far are the Circle C and Cherry Fooderama for a quick shopping, Max’s Fried Chicken, and several classy Chinese restaurants. Mommy’s Restaurant offer one of the finest native delicacies in town.

Turning right on Mindanao Avenue to further avoid heavy traffic, this alternative route takes one to more resting and snacking spots. A Jollibee outlet with its brilliant welcoming displays is just at the corner of Mindanao and Tandang Sora Avenues which themselves can serve as alternative routes to avoid heavy traffic. Across this corner is a 7-11 all day all night mini-mart clustered with other eateries.

Not far ahead is the Perpetual Help Church, and finally the big Splash Manufacturing Corporation that signals one’s proximity to Quirino Avenue. In all, the travel from EDSA to Quirino Avenue via this alternative route takes a mere 20 to 30 minutes, a much shortened travel to avoid heavy traffic.

A traditional trip from EDSA to Quirino Avenue via Balintawak takes some one to one and a half hours of gruesome traffic. So taking this alternative route to avoid heavy traffic is all worth it. It even provides time for quick snacks or shopping or a take-home dinner for the whole family.