Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 6) — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is fine-tuning the “stop and go” traffic scheme for city buses as it expects more vehicles on EDSA Monday amid the ongoing repair of portions of the bus carousel.
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) acting chairman Romando Artes on Sunday advised motorists and commuters to use alternative routes and modes of transport to avoid inconvenience.Artes said the MMDA will announce online the portions of EDSA where traffic buildup is expected due to the asphalting of the bus lane.
RELATED: MMDA announces EDSA road works from Aug. 4 to 9
Portions of the EDSA Bus Carousel from Balintawak to Buendia Avenue were closed to traffic since 10 p.m. on Aug. 4 due to the repairs. The project is expected to be completed by 5 a.m. on Aug. 9.
The MMDA has deployed 650 traffic enforcers to help manage the traffic.
“Kanina maganda ang takbo ng traffic. Nagpe-prepare tayo sa Monday dahil marami nang magbubukas na paaralan at may pasok sa opisina,” Artes said on Sunday. “May mga konting adjustments tayong ginawa, lalong lalo na yung stop and go ng traffic ‘pag lalabas yung ating mga bus sa bus carousel.”
[Translation: Traffic was smooth earlier. We are preparing for Monday because a lot of schools will be opening and there will be work in offices. We will be making some adjustments, especially on stop and go traffic when buses go out of the bus carousel.]
Except for some traffic buildup, Artes said travel time along EDSA during the first two days of the repairs was “normal” because of the traffic management plan implemented by the MMDA.
He said he will discuss with the Department of Public Works and Highways the possibility of implementing future major road works for several days instead of doing piecemeal repairs on weekends.
“Kung ako masusunod, puwedeng gawin nang template ito, itong nangyaring ito sa EDSA, na puwede namang pagsabay-sabayin. Kaunting abala pero isahan lang. I mean, shorter period compared doon sa every weekend magagawa,” said Artes. “I think it’s much better. Kailangan lang paghandaan, i-inform ang public at gawan ng magandang traffic management plan.”
[Translation: If it were up to me, what’s happening now along EDSA can be a template of how things can be done simultaneously. There might be some inconvenience but it would only happen once. This is a shorter period compared with doing work every weekend. I think it’s much better. We just need to prepare. The public has to be informed and a good traffic management plan must be developed.]
Artes said he is optimistic that the impact of major road closures would be minimized as long as the public is informed beforehand.
