Traffic rerouting for Feast of Black Nazarene set

MANILA, Philippines – A traffic rerouting in Quiapo, Manila will be implemented during the 404th celebration of the Feast of the Black Nazarene this Sunday, the Manila Police District (MPD) reported today.

The Manila District Traffic Enforcement Unit of the MPD released a traffic advisory detailing the traffic scheme that will be implemented on January 9.

The MPD said the following routes will be closed to traffic: Quirino Grandstand going to Katigbak Drive, P. Burgos, MacArthur Bridge; right Palanca thru under Quezon Bridge; left Quezon Boulevard; Arlegui; right Fraternal; right Vergara; left Duque de Alba; left Castillejos; left Farnecio; right Arlegui; left Nepomuceno; left Aguila; right Carcer; right Hidalgo through Plaza Del Carmen; left Bilibid Viejo thru Puyat; left Guzman; right Hidalgo; left Barbosa; right Globo de Oro through Quezon Bridge; right Palanca; right Villalobos through Plaza Miranda going to Quiapo Church.

The MPD advised the motorists to expect heavy traffic in areas during the procession of the Black Nazarene.

These include the stretch of Roxas Blvd., Bonifacio Drive, Anda Circle, T.M. Kalaw, Quezon Blvd., Recto, Palanca, Taft Ave. westbound lane, Lagusnilad, P. Burgos, Villegas, N.A. Lopez, and 25th Street at Port Area.

The MPD said closure of roads to traffic will take effect prior to the approach of the procession to the areas.

From 5 a.m. onwards, the southbound of Quezon Blvd. from Andalucia, Fugoso to Plaza Miranda and the stretch of Lerma from P. Campa to Quezon Blvd. will be closed to traffic to all types of vehicles.

The rerouting plan directs all vehicles from Quezon City using España to turn right to P. Campa, left to Andalucia, right to Fugoso, and left to Mapua.

All public utility jeepneys and light vehicles coming from España bound for the Port Area are to turn left at Nicanor Reyes, right to Rector, straight to JAS, left to Reina Regente, take Jones Bridge, and right to Magallanes Drive.

Vehicles from northern Manila intending to use the southbound stretch of Bonifacio Drive shall turn right to Roberto Oca St., left to Delgado, left to Bonifacio Drive or turn right to A. Soriano, to Magallanes Drive, right to P. Burgos, straight to Lagusnilad and to Taft Ave.

All vehicles coming from southern Manila intending to use the northbound stretch of Roxas Blvd. from P. Ocampo to P. Burgos are to turn right at T.M. Kalaw and left to Taft Ave while vehicles from south intending to use P. Burgos should take T.M. Kalaw and left to Taft Ave. then turn right to A. Villegas, then right to Quezon Bridge.

Public utility jeepneys (PUJs) plying Monumento-Gasak-Recto intending to use Andalucia through Recto are to turn right Fugoso then right to Oroquieta while PUJs coming from Legarda shall turn right to Recto or left Mendiola to point of destination.

Those using northbound stretch of Taft Ave. are to turn right at A. Villegas and right to Quezon Bridge.

Heavy vehicles such as cargo trucks coming from the south shall take Pres. Osmena, right Pres. Quirino to Nagtahan via A.H. Lacson to Capulong.

Motorists intending to proceed to northern and southern Manila are advised to use the stretch of Lacson to Nagtahan and vice-versa or utilize the stretch of Road 10 to Roxas Blvd.

Buses coming from southern Manila using Taft Avenue will be denied entry from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., and they may only go as far as President Quirino and Remedios Street.

Eastern-bound buses, on the other hand, using Legarda after Ayala Bridge shall turn right N.A. Lopez, left San Marcelino, left Ayala Boulevard.

Buses going to fairview shall turn right to UN Avenue up to Otis then may turn left to Nagtahan going straight to Lacson then turn right to Espana.MPD head Chief Superintendent Roberto Rongavilla said his men will be on alert at the two sites as well as on key points of the procession on Saturday night. (report from Sandy Araneta, Philstar.com)