Amid accidents, MMDA to add more visible markers on bus lane barriers

MANILA: The MMDA (Metropolitan Manila Development Authority) will add more signs and indicators to mark the new concrete barriers installed on EDSA to separate the PUB (public utility bus) lanes from private vehicles.

“I have already directed our Traffic Engineering Center to start the installation of extra hazard markers to supplement the existing ones already in place,” said MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia.

This comes in the wake of several accidents on EDSA involving these new concrete barriers that have resulted in damage public and private property — and even death and injuries.

According to MMDA Assistant Secretary and Spokesperson Celine Pialago, the recent accidents were not caused by the concrete barriers, but were mostly due to driver error and weather condition.

“Seven out of the 11 barrier-related vehicular accidents along EDSA were caused by over speeding vehicles. One instance was that of a speeding delivery truck that rammed into the concrete barriers because the road was slippery due to the rain. The driver was speeding, that’s why the vehicle slipped off the road,” said Pialago.

The new concrete barriers were installed to designate the PUB lane, transferring it from the rightmost lane to the opposite side in order to speed up their movement and the transit of commuters during the community quarantine.

MMDA Edsa Special Traffic and Transport Zone Head Edison ‘Bong’ Nebrija notes that these barriers should be visible to motorists as it comes with reflectorized flaglets.

All concrete barriers also bear the standard hazard marker (the yellow and black diagonal stripes) that signify it is an obstruction and must be avoided.

Photo from DOTr

Also read: NCR in GCQ: Public transportation to be phased in, EDSA restructured