The Department of Transportation (DoTr) will build a covered walkway to connect two of the city’s largest shopping malls, providing commuters relief from flooding and harsh weather, officials said Tuesday.

Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez said the project aims to address long-standing safety concerns for pedestrians moving between SM North EDSA and Trinoma, a transit-heavy area that serves thousands of passengers daily.

“We saw the situation on the walkway between the two malls, and what passengers go through there is really severe,” Lopez said. “When it rains, the walkway even floods, causing serious hardship for those passing through, which is why we will put a roof over that walkway.”

The proposed structure will eventually link to the Unified Grand Central Station, also known as the Common Station. This will allow commuters to transfer between the MRT-3, LRT-1, and the under-construction MRT-7 without leaving a sheltered environment. Both the Common Station and MRT-7 are slated to begin operations in 2027.