‘Zipper lane’ eases traffic jams on Edsa—MMDA

MANILA, Philippines—The first two days of the implementation of the “zipper lane” along Edsa was a success, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) announced on its weekly radio program.

On Thursday, the MMDA opened a “zipper lane,” or a counterflow lane, from SM Megamall to Pioneer Street in Mandaluyong City to ease traffic gridlock during the Christmas season.

MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino earlier announced that this zipper lane would be open from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. until Dec. 23 except on weekends.

“The initial implementation of this counter flow lane was able to achieve its aim of alleviating the traffic flow along Edsa especially this Christmas season,” MMDA assistant manager for operations Emerson Carlos said on the radio program.

Carlos noted that many vehicles were able to use the lane stretching for a kilometer to avoid traffic choke points especially Shaw Boulevard.

“In the zipper lane traffic scheme, one lane of Edsa northbound was used as a southbound lane to ease the traffic volume from Ortigas to Makati,” the assistant manager for operations explained.

With the addition of the zipper lane, Carlos said six southbound lanes have been opened to motorists during the morning rush hours from Megamall to Pioneer. He added that the MMDA has decided to resort to this measure due to the light traffic volume on northbound lane during this time.

The MMDA, however, advised vehicles going to Shaw Boulevard to avoid the zipper lane because this would bypass the road and take them directly to the lane exit already at Pioneer Street.

The total daytime truck ban, which was implemented from Dec. 13 to 20 was also another MMDA measure in reducing traffic congestion in major thoroughfares in the metro during the holiday season, according to Carlos.

“During the first day of the implementation of the total daytime truck ban, the MMDA recorded more than 700 violations for the truck ban rule alone,” Carlos noted.

The assistant general manager for operations explained that these actions by the MMDA are not only aimed at easing traffic flow but also at avoiding road accidents.