MANILA, Philippines – Travel time along C-5 Kalayaan in the southern and eastern portions of the metropolis has improved with the opening of the elevated U-turn interchange, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority said.

Based on results of the travel time survey conducted by the MMDA’s Traffic Engineering Center, traveling on Kalayaan Avenue has sped up by 90 percent, officials said.

“From Lawton in Manila toward Buting in Pasig City, the previous 17.93 kilometer per hour travel speed rose to 34.14 kph after the opening of the elevated U-turn two weeks ago,” MMDA Chair Bayani Fernando said.

“From Buting toward Lawton, the previous travel speed of 19.45 kph rose by 14 percent or, 22.14 kph,” he added.

The study also showed that from Commando Link in Taguig City to Lanuza in Pasig City, travel speed rose from 28.85 kph to 44.3 kph, an increase of 54 percent.

From Lanuza to Global City, travel time was pegged at 35.45 kph from 17.16 kph, an improvement of 107 percent, Fernando said.