Know your Christmas lanes

How do motorists and shoppers avoid getting stuck in traffic during the holiday season? The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has counted 17 ways.

MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino reiterated on the agency’s weekly radio program on Sunday that this year’s designated Christmas Lanes—fewer by 31 lanes compared to last year’s 48, were more than enough to cope with the anticipated traffic buildup.

“We are expecting a 20-percent increase in traffic volume this Christmas season because of the influx of people and vehicles from Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan, and Central Luzon,” Tolentino said.

He urged motorists to try out the following routes to prevent congestion on major thoroughfares:

(Route 1) From Edsa, turn right at West Avenue, right at Quezon Avenue, U-turn near Magbanua, right at Timog, right at Tomas Morato, right at E. Rodriguez, left at Gilmore, right at N. Domingo, left at Pinaglabanan, right at P. Guevarra, left at L. Mencias, right at Shaw Blvd., left at Acacia Lane, left at Fabella Road, right Martines to Maysilo, Francisco, Mandaluyong Makati Bridge.

(Route 2) From Edsa: Turn right at West Avenue, right to Del Monte Avenue, left at Sto. Domingo or Biak na Bato, right at Amoranto then left at Banawe or D. Tuazon, right at Maria Clara or Dapitan.

(Route 3) From North Luzon Expressway: Exit at Mindanao Avenue Access Ramp, right at Mindanao Avenue, left at Congressional, right at Luzon Avenue, take bridge crossing Commonwealth Avenue, Katipunan Avenue, C-5.

(Route 4) From Quezon City to Makati: Take N. Domingo left to Blumentritt-Kalentong, left at Manalo Street, right at Mariano, right at Luna Mencias, right at Shaw Boulevard, left at Nueve de Febrero/ Martinez, Maysilo, Sgt. Bumatay or San Francisco Mandaluyong-Makati Bridge or Barangka Drive Estrella Bridge.

(Route 5) From Quezon City to Makati: From E. Rodriguez left at Matimyas-Plaza Noli to Fajardo, left at V. G. Cruz, right at Lardizabal, left at Dela Fuente, right at Ramon Magsaysay Boulevard, Nagtahan to P. Quirino, left at South Superhighway.

(Route 6) From NLEX: Right at Balintawak Cloverleaf to Edsa going to Monumento, then left at A. De Jesus Street (8th Street), left at C-3, right at A. Bonifacio, take Mayon Avenue to Welcome Rotunda.

(Route 7) From Edsa: Turn left to Pasay Road then turn right to Makati Avenue, straight to Makati-Mandaluyong Bridge right at Francisco, Maysilo to M. Martinez Avenue, straight to Gomezville, straight to Hoover, to Wilson, left at Ortigas Avenue/Granada, right at Aurora Boulevard, then left Hemady, right at E. Rodriguez, left at T. Morato, left at Timog Avenue then right at Quezon Avenue, to Quezon Memorial Circle, right at Visayas Avenue, left at Congressional Avenue, right at Mindanao Avenue.

For those bound for Greenhills, San Juan City:

(Route 8) From Edsa, turn right at Banahaw Street, right at Makiling, left at Benitez, then straight at St. Joseph, left Ortigas Avenue, to Greenhills Shopping Center.

(Route 9) From Edsa: Turn right at Annapolis, right at Eisenhower, then left Club Filipino, to Ortigas Avenue, to Greenhills Shopping Center.

(Route 10) From Edsa: Turn right at Connecticut, to Ortigas Avenue, to Greenhills Shopping Center.

For those going to Baclaran, Parañaque City:

(Route 11) From Edsa: Take Edsa-Tramo flyover, then right at Andrews Avenue, straight to Airport Road, right at Roxas Boulevard, take service road to Redemptorist.

(Route 12) From Manila area: Along Roxas Boulevard, take a U-turn at Airport Road, take service road to Redemptorist.

For those headed for Carriedo, Manila:

(Route 13) From Manila area: From Taft Avenue, take Ayala Boulevard, left at Carlos Palanca to Carriedo Street.

(Route 14) From Manila area: From Padre Burgos, take Jones Bridge, right Muelle de Blanco Nacional, to Plaza Lacson to Carriedo.

For those going to Divisoria, Manila:

(Route 15) From Dapitan Zuki Market: Take A. H. Lacson Avenue, turn left at Tayuman Street, then left at Dagupan Street, to Divisoria.

(Route 16) From Roxas Boulevard: Right at Claro M. Recto, straight to Divisoria.

(Route 17) From R-10: Left at Moriones Street, then right at Dagupan Street, to Divisoria.

The MMDA also announced that there would be a ban on all excavations or diggings on all national and city roads starting at midnight of Dec. 13 up to midnight of Jan. 6, 2014.

Tolentino also stressed that fun runs, walkathons, marathons, bike races and similar events would be banned from Dec. 16 to Jan. 6, 2014.

In an earlier interview with Inquirer Radio 990AM, the MMDA chair announced that the ongoing training of the agency’s traffic enforcers on personality development, good grooming and communication skills would be moved to next year so that they could be deployed to the streets during the holiday season.