Airport-bound? Take ‘Christmas loops’

In anticipation of heavy traffic during the holiday season, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has designated “Christmas loops” for the benefit of people bound for the airport.

Formerly called Christmas/Mabuhay lanes, these alternative routes are aimed at easing vehicular flow near the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (Naia) terminals, according to MMDA Chair Francis Tolentino.

He added that additional express lanes would be designated as soon as the agency gets a report from the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on its ongoing road repair projects in the metropolis.

Tolentino mentioned during the agency’s weekly radio program that these alternate routes were the same ones the MMDA opened during the observance of All Souls’ Day.

Earlier, he said that the construction of the Naia Elevated Expressway Phase 2 would affect traffic flow near the airport terminals.

MMDA Traffic Engineering Center head Noemie Recio said that instead of using Andrews Avenue, motorists coming from Makati going to Naia Terminals 1 and 2 should use Skyway or the South Luzon Expressway and then exit in Sucat or Doña Soledad.

“From there, they can head to Armstrong Avenue, Kaingin Road then Multinational Village which leads directly to Naia Terminals 1 and 2,” Recio added.

Tolentino had told reporters during a test ride before All Souls’ Day that the alternate route would get commuters in Magallanes, Makati City to their destination in around 45 minutes.

Meanwhile, vehicles going to the SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City should avoid roads near the airport since these are expected to be clogged during the Christmas holiday, Recio said.

“They can instead use Kabihasnan Road going to Coastal Road then turn left to Pacific Avenue going to Macapagal Avenue,” she said as she noted that the route was suggested by Tolentino himself to reduce the number of vehicles utilizing Andrews Avenue and other roads near the airports.

Recio said that the MMDA was still finalizing the designation of additional Christmas loops since they were waiting for the completion of several ongoing road repair projects, including those being carried out by the DPWH.

In a similar move to ease traffic flow during the holiday season, the MMDA earlier ordered a moratorium on road repairs and excavations on all Metro Manila roads starting Dec. 15 until Jan. 6 next year.

Under Memorandum Circular No. 11, “all excavation activities in all Metro roads right-of-way like road reblocking works (including restoration activities by utility companies), drainage improvement and all other excavation works that will obstruct smooth traffic flow” are temporarily suspended.

Tolentino, however, said that major infrastructure projects like the Naia Elevated Expressway, the flood interceptor catchment project of the DPWH and emergency leak repairs or breakage of water lines would be exempted.

Last year, the MMDA designated 17 Christmas lanes to serve as alternate routes for motorists during the holiday season.