Post by E-Q on Apr 17, 2008 22:49:04 GMT 8
MANILA, Philippines – Still basking in praise for its program that successfully eased traffic on Edsa, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority faced a complaining public Wednesday to offer an explanation about the heavy buildup of vehicles on both lanes of the thoroughfare at midmorning Wednesday.
MMDA acting Traffic Operations Center chief Roberto Esquivel said a vehicular accident in the Ayala tunnel at about 8:30 a.m. led to a traffic jam on the southbound lane.
On the other hand, construction work near the Guadalupe footbridge left two northbound lanes impassable to motorists, further snarling traffic flow, he added. But on the whole, traffic on Edsa is still smoother than in the past, the official said.
The agency earlier declared that its crackdown on colorum buses, or those without franchises, has helped relieve Edsa of heavy traffic.
Travel speed on Edsa, according to the MMDA, is now somewhere between 45 and 65 kilometers per hour, a dramatic climb from what used to be a 22 to 23 kph average.
Earlier this month, the agency began clearing Edsa of colorum buses in preparation for its Organized Bus Route System to be implemented next week.
It has impounded close to 200 buses, drawing objections from bus operators and criticism from some sectors.