MMDA to motorists: Take alternative routes in Manila on Jan. 9

Thousands of devotees try to touch the image of the Black Nazarene in the Traslacion 2017. (File photo by GRIG C.MONTEGRANDE / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has advised the public to take alternative routes on Jan. 9 as some roads in Manila would be closed for the feast of the Black Nazarene.

In an advisory on Saturday, the MMDA said some roads would be closed around the vicinity of Quiapo Church and its procession route.

The roads that would be affected by the closure on January 9 are the following:

• Fugoso cor. P. Guevarra
• Rizal Avenue cor. Doroteo Jose
• Claro M. Recto cor. T. Mapua
• Claro M. Recto cor. S.H. Loyola
• Andalucia cor. Fugoso
• Lerma cor. España
• Claro M. Recto cor. Legarda
• A. Soriano cor. General Luna
• P. Casal cor. Palanca
• Anda Circle cor. Bonifacio Drive
• A. Villegas cor. Taft Avenue (Freedom Triangle)
• Bonifacio Drive cor. 25th Street
• Taft Avenue cor. Finance Road
• Ma. Orosa cor. P. Burgos
• Roxas Boulevard cor. TM Kalaw

An official from the Manila government said on Friday that there would be no changes for the route for Traslacion 2019.

READ: Manila gov’t says Traslacion 2019 route same as last year

With this, the traffic agency advised the motorists to take alternate roads to get to their respective destinations and avoid the roads that are closed to traffic.

The following alternative routes were stated in the MPD’s rerouting advisory:

• All vehicles coming from northern part of Manila intending to utilize the stretch of Bonifacio Drive southbound (Manila Hotel and other officer at Port area) shall turn right to Roberto S. Oca St, left to Delgado, left to Bonifacio Drive, right to A. Soriano to Magallanes Drive, right to P. Burgos, then go straight to Lagusnilad to Taft Avenue. Other vehicles for southbound, meanwhile, shall turn left to A. Soriano to point of destination.
• All vehicles using Taft Avenue northbound shall turn right to A. Villegas (Arroceros), right to Quezon Bridge to point of destination. The MMDA noted that the northbound section of the Quezon Boulevard will be open to traffic.
• All vehicles coming from southern part of Manila intending to utilize the northbound of Roxas Boulevard, from TM Kalaw going to P. Burgos shall turn right to TM Kalaw to point of destination.
• All vehicles coming from Quezon City using the stretch of España shall turn right to P. Campa, left to Andalucia, right to Fugoso, left to T. Mapua in order to reach the point of destination.
• All PUJs and light vehicles coming from España intending to proceed to South Pier Zone shall turn left to Nicanor Reyes, right to Recto and straight to JAS, left to Reina Regente, take Jones Bridge to point of destination.
• All vehicles coming from Divisoria intending to utilize the stretch of Recto shall turn left to T. Alonzo, right to Fugoso, and left to Andalucia
• All vehicles coming from Legarda shall turn right to Recto or left to Mendiola to reach point of destination.
• All heavy vehicles or cargo trucks coming from the south shall take President Osmeña, right to President Quirino to Nagtahan bridge via AH Lacson to Capulong (vice versa)
• All motorists intending to proceed to North of Manila or South of Manila shall be advised to utilize the stretch of Lacson to Nagtahan (vice-versa) or to utilize the stretch of Road-10 to Roxas Boulevard (vice-versa) to point of destination
• All buses coming southern pasrt of Manila utilizing Taft Avenue are not allowed to enter from 7 a.m. up to 12 noon. Buses are only allowed up to Pres. Quirino as their turning point, the MMDA said. /jpv