The Metro Manila Council (MMC) is studying the possibility of declaring “Car Free Sundays” on both the northbound and southbound sections of Roxas Boulevard stretching between Padre Burgos Avenue to Quirino Avenue every Sunday.
Roxas Blvd. just after its intersection with Padre Burgos Ave. [Photo: Google Maps]
Currently, this is still filed as draft ordinance (DO) 8724, but the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has already started to implement trial runs for this proposal last Sunday (May 12, 2024).
The next partial closures for Roxas Blvd. are then scheduled on May 19 and 26 as well as on June 2, 9, 16, 23, and 30. The said closures will be implemented on the said road from 5:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
As per the ordinance, it will close off the aforementioned road to motor vehicles to function as a safe space for citizens to exercise or hold family activities every Sunday. This thus seeks to promote health and wellness for residents of Manila.
To that end, the MMDA has released alternate routes for motorists as follows:
-Vehicles heading northbound on Roxas Blvd. turn right to Quirino Ave. to destination.
-Vehicles heading southbound on Roxas Blvd. turn left to P. Burgos Ave. to destination.
-Vehicles coming from three bridges (Jones, McArthur, and Quezon) heading to Roxas Blvd. to redirect to Taft Ave. to destination.
-Vehicles coming from westbound of P. Burgos going to southbound Roxas Blvd. to make a full turn at round table towards Ma. Orosa St., then turn to Kalaw Ave. to destination.
-Vehicles coming westbound from Kalaw Ave. heading to southbound lane of Roxas Blvd. to make a left turn at M.H. de Pilar to destination.
-Vehicles coming from westbound of UN Ave. heading to southbound of Roxas Ave. are to take a left turn to M.H. del Pilar to destination.
-Vehicles coming from Finance Road to P. Burgos are to make a right to Bonifacio Drive to destination.
Roxas Blvd. just after its intersection with Quirino Ave. [Photo: Google Maps]
-Vehicles coming from westbound of Quirino Ave. to make a left to Roxas Blvd. southbound to destination.
-Heavy vehicles or trailer trucks coming from Delpan Bridge to make a turn at Anda Circle towards the northbound lane of Mel Lopez Blvd. to C-3 road to destination.
If one regularly passes through Roxas Blvd. on Sundays, do take note of the alternate routes above to avoid further delays.
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