MMDA plans reopening 2 U-turn slots on EDSA after traffic complaints

After closing five U-turns slots on EDSA, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Thursday said it has decided to reopen at least two of them amid complaints of heavy traffic in these areas.

MMDA general manager Jojo Garcia said he had already discussed the matter with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and House Transportation Committee chair Samar Representative Edgar Mary Sarmiento.

“Kausap namin ang DOTr kanina. Kanina rin po kausap ko si Congressman Sarmiento, ang chairman ng Transportaion sa House. Pinag-uusapan namin 'yung pagbabalik ng U-turn,” he said in a public briefing.

“So may plano po tayong magbalik ng dalawang U-turn slots maybe dito sa North Avenue and Congressional,” he added.

Garcia said an elevated busway will be set up at select U-turn slots on EDSA to prevent traffic build-up, according to MMDA Traffic Operations chief Bong Nebrija.

“Magkakaroon tayo ng elevated busway. We will be identifying portions of EDSA where we could designate a U-turn slot,” Nebrija said in an interview on Unang Hirit.

“Sa U-turn slot na 'yun, gagawa tayo ng elevated busway. Sa ibabaw dadaan 'yung bus. ‘Yung ilalim gagamitin naman ng private vehicles to take that U-turn,” he added.

In response to motorists complaining about the traffic on EDSA, Garcia noted that the closure of the U-turn slots benefitted more people, specifically bus commuters.

“Talaga dito ang binibigyan natin ng priority ang mga buses, mga commuters natin kasi ang isang bus ang laman niyan ay nasa 30 plus ang pasahero. Ang kotse, isa, dalawa. Ang maximum, tatlo na,” he said.

“Pinapabilis natin po talaga ang biyahe ng mga commuters dahil sila po ang mas madami,” he added.

With the busway, Garcia said the travel time for buses from Monumento to Makati improved from more than three hours to less than 45 minutes.

He added that the traffic in EDSA is still faster compared to last year. In November 2019, the travel speed was recorded at seven to nine kilometers per hour (kph), while in 2020 of the same period at 25 to 30 kph.

“Ang napapansin lang siguro ng ating mga motorista na during the enhanced community quarantine, modified ECQ ng Metro Manila sobrang luwag kaya medyo hindi nna sila snay talaga kapag sobrang bagal,” he added.

According to Garcia, the volume of motorists passing EDSA also decreased from nearly 400,000 to 280,000-300,000 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. -Joviland Rita/GMA News