I’ve been wondering why there seems to be much congestion along the westbound side of Marcos Highway in the morning just before we reach SM Cherry. It is usually flowing there but the past weeks when we used the route instead of Sumulong Highway, traffic was really bad. As I am quite observant about the traffic and always looking for reasons or causes, I found that this was due to the alternative route Antipolo ‘opened’ that many motorists now take when traveling between Marikina and the side of Antipolo heading in the general direction of Cogeo.

The alternate route connects Marcos Highway and Sumulong Highway via TOCS Avenue (which intersects Marcos Highway near SM Cherry) and Sampaguita Street (which intersects Sumulong Highway past Masinag Junction and near the Hillside Centre Plaza before Soliven Avenue). If you’re coming from Marikina and heading in the direction of Cogeo or even Antipolo Simbahan then this route may provide shorter travel time as you won’t have to go around Masinag Junction to make an effective left turn to Marcos Highway (direct left turns at Masinag are not allowed).

This is the view from the queue approaching the intersection of TOCS Avenue with Marcos Highway from the eastbound side of the highway. Note that traffic is not flowing from the junction along the eastbound (Metro Manila bound) side of the highway.

A closer look with vehicles turning left to Marcos Highway from TOCS Avenue. There are usually Antipolo traffic enforcers facilitation (read: favoring) traffic from and to TOCS Avenue. This results to build-up along Marcos Highway where most traffic is through traffic.

The resulting congestion affects many travelers including freight along the westbound (Metro Manila-bound) direction of Marcos Highway.

While the alternate route likely provides shorter travel times for those coming from Marikina to Antipolo/Cogeo and vice versa, this is at the expense of more people and goods who and that travel along Marcos Highway. Antipolo should realize this even with basic observations on the traffic build-up in the area. Traffic for that alternate route should not be prioritized to the detriment of travelers along Marcos Highway.

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