Here Are the Roads You May Want to Avoid During the 2019 SEA Games

We're a few weeks away from the 2019 Southeast Asian Games, and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority has been making all the necessary preparations to alleviate the imminent heavy traffic during the festivities, which will run from November 30 to December 11.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) previously announced that a stop-and-go traffic scheme will be implemented when the games begin to ensure that athletes and delegates reach their destinations on time. It will also deploy 2,000 personnel across Metro Manila, while patrol motorcycles, mobile-car escorts, ambulances, and tow trucks will be on standby.

The agency has also identified all potential choke-point areas during the games. If you drive around the Metro often, avoid these locations, or at least plan your trips wisely.

Expected choke points during 2019 Southeast Asian Games:

1. SLEX northbound
2. Mindanao Avenue-North Avenue to NLEX, Quezon City
3. Roxas Boulevard corner G. Puyat (Buendia) Avenue
4. Roxas Boulevard corner P. Ocampo Street
5. Roxas Boulevard P. Burgos Street
6. Taft Avenue corner P. Ocampo Street
7. Adriatico RMSC Area
8. Quirino Avenue corner Adriatico Street, Manila
9. Shaw Boulevard corner Pioneer Street, Pasig City
10. N. Domingo-FilOil, San Juan City
11. Lawton Avenue corner Bayani Road, Taguig City

You might also want to take note of the venues for the competition, so you can plan your trips well:

2019 SEA Games venues

1. Rizal Memorial Sports Complex
2. Cuneta Astrodome
3. SM Mall of Asia Arena
4. SM Mall of Asia Skating Rink
5. World Trade Center
6. Philippine International Convention Center Forum
7. SM Megamall
8. Filoil Flying V Centre
9. Filinvest City
10. University of the Philippines Diliman Gym
11. Marine Corps
12. Muntinlupa Sports Complex
13. Starmall EDSA
14. Makati Coliseum
15. Manila Hotel tent
16. SM Megamall Ice Rink
17. World Trade Center
18. Philsports Arena
19. Amoranto Sports Complex
20. Manila Polo Club

As for the stop-and-go traffic scheme, these are the areas that may be affected:

1. EDSA
2. Roxas Boulevard
3. Taft Avenue
4. Ayala Avenue
5. Magallanes
6. G. Puyat (Buendia) Avenue
7. Shaw Boulevard
8. Boni Serrano Avenue
9. SM Megamall
10. Santolan
11. SM North
12. Muñoz
13. Balintawak

The agency also expects heavy traffic north of Metro Manila, specifically in Clark and Subic. The official venue for the games will be at the New Clark City Sports Hub in Capas, Tarlac.

With the SEA Games coinciding with the start of the holiday season, motorists and commuters in the Metro are in for stressful trips ahead. Stay sane, Metro Manila!