Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — Heavy traffic prompted the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to close its zipper lane from SM Megamall to Boni Avenue on Wednesday (July 22), minutes before its scheduled time to end at 8:30 a.m.
It was the first day of the experimental traffic scheme.
“We closed our zipper lane at around 8:05 a.m. although we scheduled it at 8:30 a.m.,” Atty. Crisanto Saruca Jr., director of the MMDA Traffic Discipline Office, told CNN Philippines in a phone interview on Wednesday.
“We noticed that there is already heavy volume of traffic going to southbound, including the zipper lane,” he explained.
The zipper lane was opened to ease morning rush hour traffic at the southbound lane of EDSA. But some motorists complained that it has caused heavier traffic.
‘ ‘9’: ‘contentWidth’: ‘100%’ ’embedCode’: ‘
@eikeiofficial Just high density of vehicles po. Ten-4 #mmda
— Official MMDA (@MMDA) July 22, 2015
‘
I think the zipper lane caused more traffic and chaos today. Yung
mga busses na dati nasa bus lanes lang, ngayon they're everywhere.😟 @mmda— IG:
@MarvinAgustin (@marvin_agustin) July
22, 2015
Left Ayala,Mkti at 6:30 a.m, arrived at Edsa-Shangrila Shaw Blvd
at 8:15 am. Traffic due to zipper lane implementation. Palpak!!!@MMDA—
baldbautista62 (@BaltazarBd) July
22, 2015
this
zipper lane along EDSA… yes it makes SOUTHBOUND traffic lighter… at the
cost of the NORTHBOUND LANE… SERIOUSLY NOT A SOLUTION!!
— ezee
amponin (@_eeve3_) July
21, 2015
Zipper
lane is such a stupid solution to ease morning traffic in EDSA SB. It just
make EDSA look even more hopeless, both sides! @MMDA
—
Cedrick L (@masterrcedrick) July
21, 2015
@mmda zipper lane in EDSA?! Reason? To
cause equal damage of traffic southbound and notthbound? Please explain. –
loyal taxpayer
— Chester Ivan Cruz (@KapitanCruz) July
21, 2015
Major chokepoint
Saruca earlier said that the lane will be open every Wednesday and Friday starting at 6:00 a.m.
According to MMDA, the southbound lane of Boni Avenue is a major chokepoint on EDSA due to the large volume of vehicles. A bus stop is also located at the thoroughfare, which it said adds to the congestion.
Saruca did not indicate how long this experimental traffic scheme will be implemented, but said that it will be stopped if proven to be ineffective.
“As we said earlier, this is still subject to further study and evaluation and we will make the necessary adjustments as we see it.”
He added that MMDA will make improvements in the scheme which will be implemented again on Friday.
“Based on today’s experience, we will make the necessary improvements and act accordingly.”
The MMDA added that even with the premature closure, it assessed the activity on Wednesday as a success saying that 2,000 vehicles used the zipper lane.
