HPG, MMDA come up with new traffic schemes

EDSA (Wikipedia photo)

MANILA – Still with the aim to ease the worsening traffic congestion on EDSA, the Highway Patrol Group (HPG) and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) have come up with new solutions such as imposing truck ban hours, closing several U-turn slots and strictly implementing no parking areas, among others.

Beginning today, the U-turn slots on EDSA-West Avenue and EDSA-Santolan service roads have been closed to lessen queuing of vehicles in the areas.

Starting tomorrow, truck ban hours from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. will be reinstated in all Metro Manila roads with exceptions on Sundays and holidays, and a total truck ban will be implemented on EDSA, the Makati and Ortigas business districts and in Fort Santiago.

Moreover, no part of EDSA can be used as a parking space, even for government vehicles. The highway will also be cleared of obstructions.

More HPG and MMDA traffic enforcers will also be deployed in merging zones along EDSA to ease the heavy influx of vehicles and ensure smooth traffic flow.

A week after the HPG took over as the lead traffic law enforcement agency, several motorists and commuters have noticed some improvements on EDSA’s traffic flow.  The traffic marshals, however, acknowledge that the highway’s traffic condition is ‘not yet perfect.’