MMDA reroutes traffic in Manila for Black Nazarene procession

MANILA, Philippines – Motorists passing through parts of Manila will have to follow a rerouting scheme starting 12:01 a.m. Thursday in anticipation of the yearly procession of the Feast of the Black Nazarene.

Starting 5:00 a.m. of January 9, the southbound lane of Quezon Boulevard in Quiapo from Andalucia-Fugoso to Plaza Miranda and España-P. Campa-Lerma will be closed to traffic, the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said.

The MMDA said the following roads will also be closed to traffic: CM Recto/S.H. Loyola, A. Villegas/Taft Avenue., Ma. Orosa/P.Burgos, Bonifacio Drive/25^th Street, Gen. Luna/ A. Soriano, T. Mapua/CM Recto, Juan Luna/Dasmarinas, P. Casal/Palanca, Taft Ave./U.N. Ave., Roxas Boulevard/TM Kalaw, Anda Circle/Bonifacio Drive, Rizal Ave./CM Recto, Juan Luna/San Fernando, Northbound lane of Quezon Boulevard.

The following are the alternate routes:

1. All vehicles coming from the northern part of Manila intending to utilize the stretch of Bonifacio Drive southbound (Manila Hotel & other Offices at Port Area) shall turn right at Roberto S. Oca St., left Delgado, left Bonifacio Drive, right A. Soriano to Magallanes Drive, right to P. Burgos, go straight to Lagusnilad to Taft Avenue. Likewise, other vehicles for southbound shall turn left A. Soriano to point of destination.

2. All vehicles using Taft Avenue northbound shall turn right at A. Villegas (Arroceros) right Quezon Bridge to point of destination. (Note: northbound of Quezon Blvd. is open to traffic)

3. All vehicles coming from southern part of Manila intending to utilize the northbound of Roxas Blvd. from TM Kalaw to P. Burgos shall turn right TM Kalaw to point of destination.

4. All vehicles coming from Quezon City using the stretch of Espana shall turn right to P. Campa, left to Andalucia, right to Fuguso, left T. Mapua to point of destination.

5. All PUJs/light vehicles coming from Espana intending to proceed to South Pier Zone turn left Nicanor Reyes, right Rector straight to JAS, left Reina Regente take Jones Bridge to point of destination.

6. All vehicles coming from Divisoria intending to utilize stretch of Recto shall turn left T. Alonzo, right Furguso, left Andalucia to point of destination.

7. All vehicles coming from Legarda shall turn right to Recto or left Mendiola to point of destination.

MMDA said all buses from Laguna and Cavite that ply through Taft Avenue will also not be allowed to enter from 7 a.m. to 12 noon, and will only be allowed up to President Quirino as their turning point.

MMDA also said motorists intending to go north or south of Manila should use the stretch of Lacson to Nagtahan (vice versa) or the stretch of Road 10 to Roxas Boulevard (vice versa) to their point of destination.