EDSA-Buendia southbound footbridge (Photo from MMDA)
MANILA, Philippines – The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has unveiled on Thursday a new south-bound footbridge at the EDSA-Buendia intersection in Makati City to help pedestrians safely access bus lanes in the area and ease the flow of traffic.The MMDA said pedestrians can now access the footbridge from Makati Avenue or the southbound exit of the MRT-3’s Buendia Station.
“Buendia is one of the busiest intersections in terms of pedestrian traffic and having this overpass for them to use will make their trips easy, secured, and safe” MMDA Chairman Benhur Abalos said.
He added that the new footbridge will help loosen up traffic in the area, and make the EDSA busway more accessible to commuters.
This marks the MMDA’s 125th footbridge built in Metro Manila.
The MMDA today unveiled a footbridge at EDSA Buendia SB to provide pedestrians safe access to and from the new loading/unloading bay for the bus carousel in the area. The footbridge can be accessed from Makati Avenue or the SB exit of the MRT Buendia Station. #mmda pic.twitter.com/8zA7kr98Lf
— Official MMDA (@MMDA) November 11, 2021
Three more footbridges – in Tramo, Taft Avenue, and Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City for the EDSA Bus Carousel, are in the works.
MMDA said the EDSA Bus Carousel project, which includes the new loading and unloading bays at EDSA Buendia, aims to decongest traffic, thereby allowing for a faster turnaround time.
Number coding
Abalos likewise said the agency is looking at reimposing the number coding scheme after noting that travel speed has slowed down, following the relaxing of quarantine restrictions.
“Travel speed along EDSA from Roxas Boulevard going to Monumento is slower at 19 kilometers per hour (kph) now that we are under Alert Level 2 compared to 23kph during the ECQ (enhanced community quarantine). If we recorded the pre-pandemic speed of 11kph, it is possible that we shall re-implement the number coding scheme but we are monitoring the traffic volume count and the speed everyday,” he said.