MMDA eyes narrower lanes for EDSA

MANILA, Philippines — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is set to narrow the existing lanes on EDSA to add another lane for private vehicles in a bid to ease traffic congestion, an official said yesterday.

Bong Nebrija, EDSA traffic czar, said a “lane-narrowing scheme” will be implemented on EDSA’s northbound and southbound lanes, from Roxas Boulevard to Monumento.

He clarified that the MMDA has no “road diet” traffic reduction measure, contrary to what MMDA spokesperson Celine Pialago announced.

Each lane is currently 3.4 meters wide and under the new scheme, the width will be reduced to 2.8 meters.

Nebrija said this means that from five lanes in each direction, EDSA will have six lanes as soon as they start implementing the program.

“Under this new scheme, we want to push traffic forward and decongest vehicles on EDSA. The lane that will be opened from the narrowed lanes will be for private cars,” he said. 

Based on MMDA’s record, the traffic volume on EDSA has reached 402,000 vehicles as of Dec. 19, exceeding by 40 percent the highway’s carrying capacity of 288,000 vehicles per day. 

Nebrija said they have sent their recommendations to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), which is responsible for narrowing the lanes and putting the necessary markings. 

 Asked when they are going to implement the project, Nebrija said they are only waiting for the approval of the DPWH since it is the agency responsible for road constructions and government infrastructure projects.