MMDA to explore alternative route to EDSA

In an effort to ease the flow of traffic along EDSA, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is exploring an alternative route that can be used by private vehicles.

Beginning this week, the MMDA said it will conduct an ocular inspection of roads that can be used by private vehicles. MMDA Executive Director Angelito Vergel de Dios, of theTraffic Operations Center (TOC), said the new route could become operational within the year.

"To clarify, we do not ban private vehicles from EDSA, we are merely offering an alternative route," he said.

Vergel de Dios said he would also send a team of surveyors to travel through and make observations on the proposed route for private motorists. "We would have to remove all road and sidewalk obstructions because some people use them as parking areas for their cars, while some residents and business establishments already occupied the sidewalks."

To decongest the traffic along EDSA, the MMDA official suggested that private motorists heading to Makati City use the C5 Road instead.

They could also pass through Mother Ignacia Avenue, Roxas District and E. Erodriguez Avenue in Quezon City and then proceed to Wilson Street in San Juan and onto Nueve de Pebrero in Mandaluyong City. From there, they can take the Maysilo Circle to A. Francisco Street and finally the Mandaluyong-Makati Bridge leading to Makati City.

This was the same route motorists used during the construction of the Kamuning flyover.

Vergel de Dios admitted that the alternate route may, at present, be confusing, thus not attractive to motorists but he assured them that the MMDA would install road signs to guide them.

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is expected to loan P1.4 billion to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), which was initially intended for the asphalt overlaying of the whole stretch of EDSA.

But MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando, concurrent head of the Regional Development Council, rejected the proposal and suggested that instead of an entire asphalt overlay, the DPWH should just select specific areas that need repairs and spend the rest of the funds to build footbridges.