EDSA concrete barriers replaced with bollards

MANILA, Philippines — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) yesterday started replacing the concrete barriers along EDSA with steel bollards.

MMDA workers installed steel bollards along EDSA near Shaw Boulevard in Mandaluyong.

Celine Pialago, spokesperson for the MMDA, said the bollards would serve as additional barriers along the EDSA Busway.

The concrete barriers, which were used to separate the EDSA Busway from the other lanes, were blamed for the series of vehicular accidents recently.

Pialago said some of the concrete barriers would remain, adding the accidents were “100 percent the fault of drivers.”

“MMDA statistics showed that the concrete barriers did not cause the accidents,” she said.

The agency recorded 15 concrete barrier-related crashes along EDSA in the past weeks.

Pialago said there is a need to retain the concrete barriers because there are still commuters who try to cross the highway.

Around 6,000 bollards will be installed along EDSA, including underpasses and overpasses.

Earlier, the MMDA said steel bollards would be placed on EDSA to maximize the space alloted for buses, private cars and bicycles.