Bus ban on EDSA flyovers, underpasses causes traffic jams

MANILA, Philippines - A decision by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to indefinitely bar passenger buses and trucks from using EDSA’s flyovers, tunnels and underpasses caused traffic gridlocks along the highway yesterday.

The MMDA’s Metrobase said that as of 2 p.m. yesterday, motorists were inching along on EDSA’s southbound lanes from Scout Borromeo in Quezon City to the Ortigas service road in Mandaluyong.

Yesterday morning, traffic was also crawling from the EDSA-Roosevelt area to Quezon Avenue.

Among the areas worst hit by traffic gridlocks is the intersection of EDSA and Quezon Avenue, where jeepneys coming from Quiapo pass through en route to Fairview.

“The problem is that the jeepneys are now fighting for space with the buses, which are supposed to have been using the flyovers,” a commuter said.

The Metrobase said the traffic buildup was caused by the large number of buses barred from using the flyovers and underpasses of EDSA. The ban took effect Sunday.

Before the directive was issued, non-airconditioned or “ordinary” buses were allowed to use EDSA’s flyovers. The MMDA, however, decided to bar all buses and trucks from using EDSA’s underpasses and flyovers following a string of accidents.

Last Sunday, two people were killed and two others hurt in a three-vehicle smashup at the Shaw Boulevard tunnel as it crossed EDSA in Mandaluyong City.

A Toyota FX was about to enter the underpass when it was rear-ended by a Hyundai Tucson.

Because of the impact, the FX swerved into the opposite lane and was hit by a Bataan Transit bus.

Immediately following the incident, MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino issued the order banning buses and trucks from using EDSA’s flyovers and underpasses.