Busy Manila thoroughfare closed for ‘Bourne’ shoot

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has advised motorists to stay away from Ramon Magsaysay Boulevard starting today until Monday as a portion of the busy thoroughfare will be closed to traffic to make way for the shooting of the Hollywood movie, “Bourne Legacy.”

According to Vergel Vicencio of MMDA Metrobase, from

1 a.m. onwards today and on Monday, the westbound lane of the road from Araneta Avenue to Pureza Street will be closed to vehicles.

A two-way traffic scheme, on the other hand, will be in effect on the eastbound lane.

Traffic, however, is expected to worsen starting at 1 a.m. on Sunday as both lanes of the busy road from Araneta Avenue to Pureza Street will be off limits to all types of vehicles.

Traffic is expected to normalize on Tuesday.

The Manila Police District- Traffic Enforcement Unit (MPD-TEU), meanwhile, advised eastbound motorists coming from Legarda/Nagtahan and J. P. Laurel Streets to use A. H. Lacson Avenue and turn right on G. Tuazon Street or España Boulevard.

For westbound motorists from San Juan, Cubao and Mandaluyong, they can take Old Sta. Mesa Street, turn left on Valenzuela Street, right on Paco/Sta. Mesa Road and then right on President Quirino Avenue to get to their destination.

Vicencio and the MPDTEU said that with traffic expected to be heavy in the affected areas for the duration of the shoot, motorists should take alternate routes.

MMDA traffic “constables” will be posted along the major thoroughfare to guide motorists, Vicencio added. With Jeannette I. Andrade