EDSA concrete barriers replaced with steel bollards

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Sunday began replacing the concrete barriers on EDSA with steel bollards.

The concrete barriers, which were used to separate the EDSA Busway lane from the other lanes, has figured in some vehicular accidents recently.

On Sunday morning, MMDA personnel were seen installing the bollards on EDSA near Shaw Boulevard in Mandaluyong City, according to a report on Dobol B sa News TV by Luisito Santos.

MMDA traffic chief Bong Nebrija said the use of the bollards is part of the road diet for EDSA to maximize the space allotted for buses, private vehicles and bikes.

Around 6,000 pieces of bollards will be installed on EDSA including underpasses and overpasses.

Traffic enforcers said having bollards may lessen the number of accidents since these are more visible and take lesser space.

The Department of Transportation (DOTr) said last month it has procured 36,000 concrete barriers to put up a dedicated lane for buses on EDSA.

Each concrete barrier costs P4,300, the DOTr said.

Some vehicles however, slammed into the concrete barriers after drivers fell asleep behind the wheel or miscalculated the space.

The MMDA decided in late July to replace the concrete barriers along bus lanes on EDSA with bollards, after reviewing a video that has gone viral online of a bus hitting lane dividers.

MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia then said the replacements will be sponsored by the private sector. —KG, GMA News