MANILA, Philippines — Several major roads in Manila will be temporarily closed and traffic rerouting schemes will take effect beginning July 26, 2026 in preparation for the fifth State of the Nation Address (SONA) of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on July 27, the Manila City government has announced.
The city government, through the Manila Public Information Office (PIO) in a statement, advised motorists to plan their trips and use alternate routes to avoid traffic congestion in affected areas.
Among the roads to be closed are parts of C.M. Recto Avenue from Nicanor Reyes Street to Mendiola Street and Legarda Street from Figueras Street to San Rafael Street in the vicinity of Mendiola.
The Ayala Bridge will also be closed, including the eastbound lane of Ayala Boulevard from San Marcelino Street to Romualdez Street.
For the portion of Liwasang Bonifacio area, the stretch of Magallanes Drive from Jones Bridge to MacArthur Bridge will be closed.
The affected areas for MacArthur and Quezon bridges are, the southbound lane of MacArthur Bridge from Plaza Lacson to Liwasang Bonifacio, the southbound lane of Quezon Boulevard from A. Mendoza Street/Fugoso Street to Quezon Bridge and Liwasang Bonifacio, and the southbound lane of Lerma Street from España Boulevard/P. Campa Street to A. Mendoza Street.
Other routes
To ease traffic flow, authorities have designated alternate routes for the affected motorists.
Vehicles coming from Quezon Boulevard and C.M. Recto Avenue bound for Mendiola Street will be diverted to Nicanor Reyes Street, while motorists traveling from Sta. Mesa via Legarda Street toward C.M. Recto Avenue will be redirected through Figueras, Earnshaw and Sergio H. Loyola streets.
Motorists trying to cross Ayala Bridge will also be rerouted through Taft Avenue, United Nations Avenue, A. Villegas Street, C. Muñoz Street, Carlos Palanca Street or P. Casal Street, depending on their point of origin.
Meanwhile, vehicles coming from Plaza Sta. Cruz bound for the southbound lane of MacArthur Bridge will be redirected through Dasmariñas Street, Juan Luna Street, Plaza Cervantes and Jones Bridge.
Motorists traveling from A. Mendoza Street and España Boulevard toward the southbound lane of Quezon Boulevard will also be diverted to alternate streets leading to C.M. Recto Avenue.
Authorities reminded the public to expect heavier than usual traffic in areas surrounding the route to the Batasang Pambansa Complex and urged motorists to follow traffic advisories and the instructions of law enforcers deployed in affected areas.
