Several roads in Manila will be closed and traffic rerouting schemes will be implemented on 26 July in preparation for President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s fifth State of the Nation Address (SoNA) on 27 July.

According to the Manila Public Information Office, road closures will affect areas around Mendiola, Ayala Bridge, Liwasang Bonifacio, MacArthur Bridge and Quezon Bridge.

Affected roads include portions of C.M. Recto Avenue and Legarda Street near Mendiola, Ayala Bridge and the eastbound lane of Ayala Boulevard, Magallanes Drive at Liwasang Bonifacio, and the southbound lanes of MacArthur Bridge, Quezon Boulevard and Lerma Street.

Motorists heading to Mendiola from Quezon Boulevard and C.M. Recto Avenue will be diverted to Nicanor Reyes Street, while those coming from Sta. Mesa via Legarda Street will be rerouted through Figueras, Earnshaw and Sergio H. Loyola streets.

Vehicles bound for Ayala Bridge will be redirected via Taft Avenue, Natividad Lopez Street, A. Villegas Street, Carlos Palanca Street and P. Casal Street, depending on their points of origin.

Meanwhile, motorists passing through Liwasang Bonifacio and the southbound lanes of MacArthur Bridge and Quezon Bridge will be diverted to alternate routes, including Jones Bridge, Dasmariñas Street, Juan Luna Street, Plaza Cervantes, Fugoso Street, Tomas Mapua Street and C.M. Recto Avenue.

The Manila city government advised motorists to plan their trips in advance and use alternate routes to avoid traffic congestion.