Boulevard of ruined skeds

THERE’S nothing “express” about the Express Trade Lane on Roxas Boulevard designated for trucks going to the ports in Manila, as shown by Saturday’s traffic jam. NIÑO JESUS ORBETA

A long queue of cargo trucks on Roxas Boulevard caused heavy traffic starting from the US Embassy up to the corner of Pedro Gil in Manila on Saturday afternoon.

The trucks were limited to using the so-called Express Trade Lane designated by the Manila city government as a concession to business groups relying on trucking services and who earlier protested the contentious daytime truck ban imposed by Mayor Joseph Estrada.

Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno explained that the lane is open to trucks 24/7, but that private vehicles may also pass through these lanes “at their own risk.”

“This is still a challenge for us,” Moreno said of the resulting gridlock. Annelle Tayao-Juego