DOTr eyes elevated walkways, bike lanes on Edsa

MANILA, Philippines – The Department of Transportation (DOTr) said it was considering building elevated walkways and bike lanes on Edsa to help decongest the traffic-choked highway, following Senate majority floor leader Juan Miguel Zubiri’s promise to realign P1 billion in funds to the department for this purpose.

Assistant Secretary Goddes Hope Libiran said the DOTr already had such projects in the pipeline, but still needed the support of Congress.

She did not outline specifics, only that the department was planning to build alongside major mass transportation systems linked to central business districts.

“We believe that if we have good walkway and bikeway connections, people will not rely on motorized transport for short-distance rides,” she said.

Earlier this year, the DOTr, as well as the Department of Public Works and Highways and Asian Development Bank, announced that they would soon firm up a $100-million loan for a greenways project covering six to seven walkways in North Edsa, Ortigas and Taft intersections.  — Krixia Subingsubing, PDI