MMDA opens Christmas Lanes; Traffic free in malls hoped

From Abs-cbn.com:

MANILA, Philippines – A total of 33 new alternate routes or “Christmas Lanes” were opened by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Tuesday to help ease traffic in the major roads during the holiday season.

The new routes lead to shopping centers in Divisoria, Baclaran, Greenhills and Carriedo.

“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,” said MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino in a press statement.

Tolentino will lead a motorcade at the corner of EDSA and Oliveros, Quezon City, passing through the new routes going to Tutuban, Divisoria in Manila to launch the Christmas Lanes at 6 a.m. Wednesday.

Christmas Lanes, also known as “Mabuhay Lanes” were introduced by the MMDA in 2010 to divert traffic from the heavily-congested roads of EDSA.

According to the agency’s Traffic Discipline Office, travel speed along EDSA increased by more than 14% after the alternate routes were opened last year.

The new Christmas Lanes are the following:

For private vehicles from north to south:

• From Quezon City to Makati: Take N. Domingo left to Blumentritt-Kalentong, left at Manalo St. right at Mariano right at Luna Mensias, right at Shaw Blvd., left at Nueve de Febrero/Martinez, Maysilo, Sgt. Bumatay or San Francisco Mandaluyong – Makati Bridge or Barangka Drive Strella Bridge.

For private vehicles from south to north:

• From Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (EDSA): 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 Gomezville, straight to Hoover to Wilson left at Ortigas Ave./ Granada, Hemady, right at E. Rodriguez , left at Tomas Morato right at Kamuning/ Kamias.
• From Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (EDSA): From Makati Area take Makati – Mandaluyong Bridge right at Francisco, Maysilo, and Nuevo de Pebrero left at Shaw Blvd.
• 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.

For private vehicles from north to south:

• From North Luzon Expressway: Straight at A. Bonifacio Ave, left at C-3, right at Banawe left at E. Rodriguez then right at Araneta Ave., right at Aurora Blvd, R. Magsaysay Blvd., left at Nagtahan – P. Quirino Avenue, left at South Super Highway.
• From North Luzon Expressway: Straight at A. Bonifacio, take Mayon Ave. to Welcome Rotonda.
• From Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (EDSA): Turn right at West Avenue, right at Quezon Avenue, U-turn near Magbanua, right Sct. Reyes take Umbel Bridge, left at Doña 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.
• From Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (EDSA): Turn right at West Avenue, right to Del Monte Ave., left at Sto. Domingo or Biak na Bato, right at Amoranto then left at Banawe or D. Tuazon, right at Maria Clara or Dapitan.

For private vehicles from south to north:

• From Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (EDSA): 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 Gomezville, 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..
• From Araneta Ave : From Araneta Ave right at Toktokan Street straight to West Riverside then turn right along West Riverside, left at Osmeña street to Roosevelt Ave.

For private vehicles from north to south:

• From Pasig Rosario to South Super Highway: From Ortigas Avenue extension take U-Turn at Rosario Bridge right at Dr. Sixto Antonio Avenue right at Vargas bridge to C-5.
• From Pasig Rosario to South Super Highway: From Ortigas Avenue extension take U-Turn at Rosario Bridge right at Dr. Sixto Antonio Avenue right at Vargas bridge straight to Pasig Blvd, left at Shaw blvd. left at Pioneer straight at EDSA – Boni Bridge right at Barangka drive then take Barangka – Estrella bridge to Makati area.
• From Pasig Rosario to South Super Highway: From Ortigas Avenue extension take U-Turn at Rosario Bridge right at C. Raymundo, Bagong Ilog to C-5 .
• From Mandaluyong to Makati: From Shaw Blvd. right at Acacia Lane, right at F. Ortigas Left at Boni Avenue, Maysilo.

For private vehicles from south to north:

• From Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (EDSA): Turn right to Madison turn right to Pioneer past EDSA – Boni tunnel, right to Pinatubo, left to Cordillera, left to Arayat go down Nueve de Febrero, right to S. Laurel (one way) left to Shaw Blvd. right to Ideal, left to Mc Colough, right to A. Mabini (one way) left to Wilson to San Juan Area.
• 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 Greenhills Shopping Center:

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

For private vehicles from north to south:

• From North Luzon Expressway: 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 Chico St. , straight at Xavierville, right at C5.
• From North Luzon Expressway: Straight at A. Bonifacio , take Mayon Ave. right at Dapitan Street 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 Ramon Magsaysay Blvd., Nagtahan to P. Quirino, left at South Super Highway.
• · 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 Blvd., Nagtahan to P. Quirino, left at South Super Highway.

For private vehicles from south to north:

• From South Luzon Expressway: 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.
• From South Luzon Expressway: 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 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
• From R-10: Take Moriones Street then right at Dagupan Street to Divisoria.
• From R-10: Take Claro M. Recto Street to Divisoria.
• From Caloocan City: Take Juan Luna Street to Divisoria.

Baclaran, Parañaque City:

• · From Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (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.