MMDA: 1 mishap a day tied to Edsa bus lane concrete barriers

Yellow concrete barriers are placed along EDSA Guadalupe for the bus lane scheme. (INQUIRER/ MARIANNE BERMUDEZ)

MANILA, Philippines — Vehicular accidents involving newly-installed concrete barriers for the new bus lane along Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue happen on a daily basis, based on this month’s records, the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) bared Monday morning.

“From June 1 to June 18 or 19, halos ang average natin, minimum of one per day. Mga naka-20 tayo dyan, almost 20 na aksidente,” Bong Nebrija, MMDA traffic head for Edsa, said in an interview on ABS-CBN’s Teleradyo on Monday.

(From June 1 to June 18 or 19, the average of barrier-related accidents is minimum of one a day. We have recorded almost 20 accidents.)

Nebrija acknowledged that several motorists are complaining about the newly-installed barriers but noted that using barriers as lane separators is being practiced universally and not just in the country.

He added that hazard markers are also in place so that the barriers can be noticed by motorists.

Among the reasons for the accidents are drunk-driving, motorists using cellphones while driving, overspeeding, and weather conditions, according to Nebrija.

The MMDA official earlier said more hazard markers will be placed on top of the concrete barriers so that such can be more easily noticed by motorists, even at night.

Meanwhile, Nebrija added that the construction of bus stops in the middle island of Edsa is nearing completion.

gsg