MMDA not getting rid of plastic barriers on Edsa just yet

THE METROPOLITAN Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said it would be putting back the orange plastic barriers on Edsa that were displaced or washed away by floods due to heavy rains brought by Typhoon “Nona” and Tropical Depression “Onyok.”

According to the MMDA, the barriers were necessary to instill discipline in motorists using the busy   thoroughfare.

Heavy rains besieged Metro Manila last week, bringing floods which made some of the plastic barriers on the southbound lane of Edsa-Shaw Boulevard float.

On his Twitter page, Chris Ng said that some of these even hit several vehicles on the thoroughfare last Tuesday.

MMDA Chair Emerson Carlos told reporters last Thursday that some of the plastic barriers were no match for the heavy floods because these were too light.

“But even those [filled] with water were also swept away by the strong current and the amount of rain,” Carlos explained.

At the same time, he defended the use of the plastic barriers on Edsa, saying these were easier to install and safer compared to those made of concrete.

“Concrete barriers would be very difficult to manage. If your traffic plan does not work, you would need a heavy lifter to remove them,” Carlos said, noting that plastic barriers, on the other hand, could be moved by people or be hit by vehicles in case of an emergency such as loss of brakes.

According to the MMDA, it will maintain the barriers which separate the bus lanes from the ones designated for private vehicles to prevent swerving and speed up travel time on Edsa.

The orange plastic barriers were first installed on the thoroughfare for last month’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting.

Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras, who heads the Edsa traffic Technical Working Group, said the move was also done “in anticipation of the sheer volume of vehicles that come to Metro Manila during the Christmas holiday.”