MMDA opens Christmas lanes

MANILA, Philippines - Starting next week, private motorists could use alternate routes going through Metro Manila to avoid the expected traffic jams along EDSA, especially near major shopping districts.

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Francis Tolentino announced yesterday during the one-day Metro Manila Transport and Traffic Entry Summit, the opening of alternate routes dubbed as “Christmas lanes.”

Various stakeholders of the traffic and transport sector attended the summit that was hosted by the MMDA to draw up practical measures to improve traffic along EDSA and other major roads in the metropolis.

“For their own convenience, we are asking the public to use these alternate routes. We will clear these routes of obstructions and detail traffic enforcers to assist them,” Tolentino said.

The MMDA said the Christmas lanes would start at both the north and south entry points of EDSA.

Southbound motorists coming from northern Metro Manila may take MacArthur Highway, turn right to Samson Road in Caloocan City, take C-4/Letre Road in Malabon, and then proceed to R-10 in Navotas, to A. Bonifacio Avenue at Port Area in Manila, all the way to Roxas Boulevard and then to their destinations.

Motorists coming from the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) meanwhile can exit at the newly constructed Mindanao Avenue access ramp.

In southern Metro Manila, the Christmas lane starts at the Coastal Road and at South Luzon Expressway (SLEX).

Tolentino said these alternate routes have not been fully utilized at present, but private motorists used these roads as alternate route during the construction of the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) 3 along EDSA in the late 1990s.

“Our objective is for private motorists to bypass EDSA and reduce traffic volume along it,” he said.

Tolentino said that if proven effective the alternate routes could be opened to private motorists even after the Christmas season.

Tolentino said that the Christmas lanes are only recommended for private motorists.

He added that the number coding scheme on private vehicles would also be implemented by the MMDA on these alternate routes.