EDSA ‘bikini’ island speeds up traffic – MMDA

MANILA, Philippines - The construction of a bikini-shaped island at the intersection of EDSA and North Avenue in Quezon City has sped-up vehicular traffic in the area by at least 25 percent, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said yesterday.

MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino said the island’s shape is more effective in preventing road accidents, compared to the traditional shape of the center islands it replaced.

The MMDA earlier said the bikini island would enable vehicles traveling westbound from North Avenue to get to the opposite lane without having to make a U-turn.

The MMDA said U-turn slots in the area would be removed once the bikini island is in place. According to the MMDA vehicles using the U-turn slots make the area virtual chokepoints that slow down traffic.

“We have observed that the chokepoints on EDSA corner North Avenue and Congressional Avenue are caused by U-turn slots in the area so as a solution, starting this week, we will adjust bus separators, remove some unloading bays and modify U-turn slot locations. Those vehicles making a U-turn are obstructing cars plying EDSA, which are going straight to Monumento,” MMDA general manager Emerson Carlos earlier said.

In addition to the bikini-shaped island, the MMDA will also erect steel fences in front of the Trinoma mall to prevent buses from stopping to load and unload passengers.

“We really need to instill discipline because commuters waiting on the road could be hard to control especially if there are quite a number of them,” Carlos said.

According to the MMDA, waiting for buses in “no loading areas” will constitute a jaywalking offense – violators are fined P500 and required to provide community service for three hours as well as attend a disaster seminar.