Will we finally see an end to the concrete barriers along EDSA?
IT took the death of three air force personnel for the Metropolitan Development Authority (MMDA) to again consider replacing the concrete barriers along EDSA.
The barriers were put up in June 2020 to establish an EDSA busway system on the far left of EDSA, opposite of the yellow lane.
After a number of accidents, many motorists and pedestrians question the safety of the concrete barriers, a stationary object, in the middle of a busy thoroughfare.
In September that year, the agency announced its plans to place thinner and less obtrusive steel bollards.
However, it did not replace the barriers entirely and the accidents continued.
The latest accident last Friday involved four members of the Philippine Air Forcethree of whom lost their lives after hitting the barrier.
The driver survived who was found to be intoxicated.
Authorities insisted that the accidents are caused by overspeeding and undisciplined motorists.
In a briefing, MMDA Officer-in-Charge, General Manager Romando Artes announced that they will reopen the study to replace the concrete barriers as well as to put up more safety signs.
“Inaaral po natin iyong paglalagay ng bollard, instead of concrete barriers at lalo na dadagdagan pa po natin siguro iyong mga safety signs,” said Artes.
For now, illuminated concrete barriers have replaced the damaged barriers.
While they aim to make EDSA safer for all motorists, the MMDA also wants to delineate the busway system with effective barriers, he added.
Since 2020, 437 concrete barrier-related accidents have occurred.
Tags: #trasportation, #motoring, #EDSA, #buswaysystem, #mmda, #concretebarrier