MMDA opens 33 new Christmas lanes

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Tuesday opened 33 "Christmas lanes," or alternate routes for motorists to use during the Christmas shopping rush. According to the MMDA, this year's "Christmas lanes" — which aim to ease traffic congestion — are 48 km longer than last year's. "The new routes augment last year's 12 Christmas Lanes that were only 157 kilometers long. This year, Metro Manila vehicle users can use 45 Christmas Lanes which total 205 kilometers," the MMDA said in a news release posted on its website Tuesday night. It said the new Christmas Lanes include routes to popular shopping destinations such as Divisoria (Manila), Baclaran (Parañaque), Greenhills (San Juan), and Carriedo (Manila). On the other hand, the Del Monte-West Riverside intersection in Quezon City shall be closed to help decongest traffic at the Araneta Avenue-Quezon Boulevard underpass construction site. Motorcade MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino will lead a motorcade to launch the Christmas Lanes at 6 a.m. Wednesday. The motorcade will start at the corner of EDSA and Oliveros in Quezon City and will traverse the Christmas Lanes going to Tutuban in Divisoria. Tolentino said the new Christmas lane routes were cleared to free up road space for motorists. Traffic directional signs are also being put up along the new routes. "These new Christmas Lanes are now open and we are calling on our private motorists to use these alternate roads. This is for their own convenience," he said. Also, Tolentino said the new Christmas Lanes have been divided into four groups, with each group of traffic enforcers given a particular assigned area to assist motorists and ensure unimpeded traffic flow. Alternate routes Last year, the MMDA introduced the Christmas lanes/Mabuhay lanes as alternate routes for Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA). The MMDA's Traffic Discipline Office said that after the opening of the Christmas Lanes last year, travel speed along the 24-km EDSA increased by more than 14 percent, or from 27.98 to 32.07 kph. The old Christmas lanes started at both north and south entry points of EDSA. For northbound motorists going south, they may use McArthur Highway, right turn to Samson Road, C-4/Letre, R-10, A. Bonifacio, Roxas Boulevard to destination. For motorists coming from the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), they can exit at various points, most importantly at the newly constructed Mindanao Avenue access ramp. From south to north, the Christmas lanes start at Coastal Road and South Luzon Expressway (SLEX). New Christmas lanes Private Vehicles from North to South:

• From McArthur Highway: Right turn to Samson Road, C-4/Letre, R-10, A. Bonifacio, Roxas Blvd., to destination.
• From North Luzon Expressway: Exit at Mindanao Avenue Access Ramp, right at Mindanao Ave., left at Congressional, right at Tandang Sora crossing Commonwealth flyover, Katipunan Avenue, C-5, to destination.
• Exit at Mindanao Ave., Access Ramp, right at Mindanao Ave., left at North Avenue, QMC, right at Kalayaan, left at Kamias rd. right at Anonas, left at Aurora Blvd., right at Katipunan Avenue, C-5, to destination.
• Exit at Mindanao Ave., Access Ramp, right at Mindanao Ave., left at North Avenue, QMC, right at Kalayaan, left at Kamias rd. right at Anonas, left at Chico St., straight to Xavierville, right at C-5, to destination.
• Straight at A. Bonifacio Ave, left at C-3, right at Banawe, left at E. Rodriguez, right at Araneta Ave., right at Aurora Blvd., right at Magsaysay Blvd., left at Nagtahan - P. Quirino Ave., left at South Super Highway to destination.
• Straight at A. Bonifacio Ave, take Mayon Ave. to Welcome Rotunda, then to destination.
• Straight at A. Bonifacio, take Mayon Ave., right at Dapitan St. or P. Florentino, left at A. Maceda, right at F. Fajardo, left at V.G. Cruz, right at Lardizabal, left at Dela Fuente, right at R. Magsaysay Blvd., Nagtahan to P. Quirino, left at South Super Highway to destination.

From EDSA:

• Turn right at West Ave., right at Quezon Ave., U-turn near Magbanua, right at Timog, right at T. 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 Nueve de Pebrero, Maysilo, Francisco, Mandaluyong Makati Bridge to destination.
• Turn right at West Ave., right at Quezon Ave., U-turn near Magbanua, right Sct. Reyes, take Umbel Bridge, left at Dona Rodriguez, right at N. Domingo, left at Pinaglabanan, right at P. Guevarra, left at L. Mencias, right at Shaw Blvd., left at Nueve de Pebrero, Maysilo, Francisco, Mandaluyong Makati Bridge to destination.
• Turn right at West Ave., right to Del Monte Ave., left at Sto. Domingo or Biak na Bato, right at Amoranto, left at Banawe or D. Tuazon, right at Maria Clara or Dapitan to destination.
• Turn right at Mo. Ignacia, left at Timog Ave., right at T. Morato, right at E. Rodriguez, left at Gilmore, right at N. Domingo, left at Pinaglabanan, right at P. Guevarra, right at Shaw Blvd., left at Nueve de Pebrero, Maysilo, Francisco, Mandaluyong Makati Bridge to destination.
• Turn right at Kamuning left at T. Morato, right at E. Rodriguez, left at Gilmore, right at N. Domingo, left at Pinaglabanan, right at P. Guevarra, right at Shaw Blvd., left at Nueve de Pebrero, Maysilo, Francisco, Mandaluyong Makati Bridge to destination.
• Turn right at Shaw Blvd. left at Nueve de Pebrero, Maysilo, Francisco, Mandaluyong Makati Bridge to destination.
• Turn right to Madison, right to Pinoeer past EDSA - Boni tunnel, right to Pinatubo, left to Cordillera, left to Arayat, go down Nueve de Pebrero, right to S. Laurel (one-way), left to Shaw Blvd., right to Ideal, left to McColough, right to A. Mabini (one-way), left to Wilson to San Juan area, then to destination.

From Pasig Rosario to South Superhighway:

• From Ortigas Ave. ext., take U-turn at Rosario Bridge, right at Dr. Sixto Antonio Ave., right at Vargas bridge to C-5 to destination.
• From Ortigas Ave. ext., take U-turn at Rosario Bridge, right at Dr. Sixto Antonio Ave., right at Vargas bridge to Pasig Blvd., left at Shaw Blvd., left at Pioneer, straight to EDSA - Boni bridge, right at Barangka drive, then take Barangka - Estrella bridge to Makati area to destination.
• From Ortigas Ave. ext., take U-turn at Rosario Bridge, right at C. Raymundo, Bagong Ilog to C-5 to destination.

From Quezon City to Makati:

• Take N. Domingo, left to Blumentritt - Kalentong, left at Manalo St., left at Manalo St., right at Mariano St., right at L. Mencias, right at Shaw Blvd., left at Nueve de Pebrero/Martinez, Maysilo, Sgt. Bumatay or San Francisco Mandaluyong Makati Bridge or Barangka Drive Estrella Bridge to destination.
• From E. Rodriguez, left at Matimyas - Plaza Noli to Fajardo, left at V.G. Cruz, right at Lardizabal, left at Dela Fuente, right at R. Magsaysay Blvd., Nagtahan to P. Quirino, left at South Super Highway to destination.

From Mandaluyong to Makati:

• From Shaw Blvd., right at Acacia Lane, right at F. Ortigas, left at Boni Ave., Maysilo to destination.

For private vehicles from South to North:

• From Coastal Road Expressway: Straight at Roxas blvd to R10 right at C4, Samson road to destination.
• From South Luzon Expressway: Exit to C-5, Katipunan, Tandang Sora Ave., U-turn at Congressional, right to Mindanao Ave., to destination.
• From Pres. Osmeña highway, right turn to P. Quirino, Nagtahan, right at Magsaysay Blvd. left at C3 Araneta Ave. right at A. Bonifacio to destination.
• From Pres. Osmeña Highway, right at P. Quirino to Nagtahan, to A. H. Lacson right at S. H. Loyola, left at M. De la Fuente then right at Piy Margal or Nicanor Roxas to Mayon/D. Tuazon to destination.
• From Pres. Osmeña Highway, right at P. Quirino to Nagtahan, to A. H. Lacson right at S. H. Loyola , right at V. G. Cruz, left at G. Tuazon straight to Bayani road ,left at Cordillera st., right at E. Rodriguez to destination.

From EDSA:

• Turn left to Pasay Road then turn right to Makati Ave. straight to Makati – Mandaluyong Bridge right at Fancisco, Maysilo to M. Martines Ave., straight to Gomezvill, straight to Hoover to Wilson left at Ortigas Ave./ Granada, right at Aurora Blvd. then left Hemady, right at E. Rodriguez , left at Tomas Morato left at Timog Ave. then right at Quezon Ave to QMC right at Visayas Ave. left at congressional Ave. right at Mindanao Ave. to destination.
• Turn left to Pasay Road then turn right to Makati Ave. straight to Makati – Mandaluyong Bridge right at Francisco, Maysilo, to M. Martines Ave., straight to Gomezvill, straight to Hoover to Wilson left at Ortigas Ave./ Granada, Hemady, right at E. Rodriguez , left at Tomas Morato right at Kamuning / Kamias to destination.
• Turn right at Kalayaan Ave, straight to C. P. Garcia Ave (C5) to destination.
• Take Estrella flyover to Rockwell, straight to barangka Drive, Estrella Bridge to Mandaluyong area to destination.
• From Makati Area take Makati – Mandaluyong Bridge right at Francisco, Maysilo, Nueve de Pebrero left at Shaw Blvd. to destination.

From P. Guevarra to San Juan Makati:

• From P. Guevarra turn left to Ortega, turn right to Pilar turn left to Calderon turn right to Lee turn right to S. Laurel, turn left to Shaw, turn right to Old Wack Wack road (one way), turn left at Nueve de Febrero, go straight down Arayat, turn right to Dansalan. Turn left at Boni turn right at Lions Road, turn right at EDSA, turn right to Guadalupe (ilalim) to destination.

From Buendia to San Juan:

• From Buendia left to N. Garcia, straight to Antipolo right to S. Osmeña, right to P. Gomez right to Zamora, right to Makati-Mandaluyong Bridge, right to Coronado, right to San Francisco, right to circle (Maysilo), right to F. Martinez, straight to Gomezville, straight to Hoover, cross to Wilson to San Juan to destination.

To Divisoria:

• From A. H. Lacson Ave: Left at Tayuman Street then left at Dagupan Street to Divisoria.
• From R-10: Take C-2 Capulong then right at Dagupan Street to Divisoria.
• Take Moriones Street then right at Dagupan Street to Divisoria.
• Take Claro M. Recto Street to Divisoria.

From Caloocan:

• Take Juan Luna Street to Divisoria.

To Greenhills, San Juan City:

• From EDSA: Turn right at Banahaw street, right at Makiling, left at Benitez then straight at St. Joseph, left at Ortigas Ave to Greenhills Shopping Center.
• Turn right at Annapolis, right at Eisenhower then left at Club Filipino to ortigas Ave. to Greenhills Shopping Center.
• Turn right at Connecticut to Ortigas Ave. to Greenhills Shopping Center.

To Baclaran, Parañaque City:

• From EDSA: Take EDSA - Tramo flyover then right at Andrews Avenue straight to Airport road, right at Roxas Blvd. take Service road to Redemptorist.
• From Manila Area: Take Roxas Blvd. turn right at EDSA take U-turn then right at Roxas Blvd. then take u-turn near Airport road, take Service road to Redemptorist.

To Carriedo, Manila City:

• From Manila Area: From Taft Ave., take Ayala Blvd., left at Carlos Palanca (Echague), to Carriedo St.
• From Padre Burgos, take Jones Bridge, left at Muelle del Blanco National to Plaza Lacson to Carriedo.

— KBK, GMA News