Should MMDA replace concrete barriers along EDSA? [Poll of the Week]

The concrete barriers in EDSA emerged two years ago and were placed by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to separate buses from private vehicles.    

Concrete barriers along EDSA

Two years later, the concrete barriers are still present along the stretch of EDSA despite causing road mishaps from the day of its inception. The agency previously argued that motorists should not put the blame on concrete barriers for the accidents that have occurred in EDSA. Instead, the MMDA said that drivers most likely failed to notice the barrier due to their vehicle’s speed and lack of road awareness.  

There were also several instances wherein some buses hit or crash into the barriers while driving in the designated EDSA Carousel Busway. The MMDA responded to this issue by stating that the width of the designated bus lane along EDSA follows international standards of 3.2 to 3.5 meters, which is also deemed safe for buses running at 60 km/h.    

The MMDA installs yellow flashing lights to make concrete barriers more visible

To address the concrete barrier-related accidents, the MMDA has since then installed additional hazard markers to aid visibility among motorists. Some segments along EDSA were added with yellow flashing lights to alert motorists that the concrete barriers exist. 

Despite the initiative of the MMDA to make it more visible to motorists, concrete barrier-related accidents are still happening in EDSA. 

After almost two years, and more than 400 accidents related to concrete barriers along EDSA, the MMDA is now looking at the possibility of replacing the rock-solid barricade.

MMDA chairman Romando Artes

Before assuming his role as the new MMDA chairman, Romando Artes said that the agency is looking to replace concrete barriers along EDSA. Artes shared that the MMDA is mulling at placing bollards instead of concrete barriers, an alternative that has been floating as early as August 2020. 

The new MMDA chief is not leaning towards using orange plastic barriers as it can easily be displaced by unscrupulous motorists looking to illegally use the bus lane.

Meanwhile, the MMDA is conducting a multi-stakeholder traffic summit to formulate a comprehensive management plan as economic activities continue to open in Metro Manila. The traffic summit officially kicked off last March 17, and is set to continue on March 22, and 24 in Quezon City.

Artes aims to come up with a unified traffic management plan with the participation of government agencies, private sector, transport groups, transport associations, as well as the 17 Metro Manila LGUs.

That said, should the MMDA replace the concrete barriers along EDSA? Cast your vote now in Philkotse’s Poll of the Week.