With the closure of U-turn slots along the busiest thoroughfare in Metro Manila – EDSA, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has been receiving many complaints from motorists.
Little did they know that this is in line with the government’s effort to make travel along EDSA faster.
The thing is that drivers need to familiarize with the alternate routes that they need to take as MMDA gradually closes the 13 U-turn slots on EDSA. It takes time, though.
Assistant Secretary Celine Pialago, MMDA spokesperson, said the travel time of both commuters riding city buses and private vehicle motorists will be cut by 20 minutes once all the U-turn slots on EDSA are closed.
“Private vehicle drivers and commuters riding city buses will benefit from the closure of the U-turn slots. About 20 minutes will be reduced from their travel time,” she said.
Pialago pointed out that the U-turn slots usually cause congestion on EDSA.
The agency spokesperson said they are gradually closing the U-turn slots for the affected drivers to familiarize with their designated alternate routes.
“It is gradual in order for them to be properly informed of the alternate routes they can take. This also gives our motorists ample time to familiarize with the new routes,” she said.
Here is the list of the 13 EDSA U-turn slots that are targeted to be closed in December this year:
Caloocan City
*General Tinio U-turn slot
*De Jesus Street/ 8th Street left turning
*General Malvar U-turn slot
Quezon City
*Balintawak Market U-turn slot in front of BPI
*Kaingin Road U-turn slot in front of Nissan
*Congressional LRT Station U-turn slot in front of PANORAMA
*Corregidor intersection/Bansalangin U-turn slot
*U-turn slot in front of Quezon City Academy
*North Avenue U-turn slot before MRT-North Avenue
*Santolan/Boni Serrano U-turn slot in front of Camp Crame
Makati City
*Buendia U-turn slot under the Kalayaan Flyover
Pasay City
*P. Celle U-turn slot
*U-turn slot before Roxas Boulevard near Heritage Hotel
As of this writing, MMDA has closed four U-turn slots, namely: the ones near North Avenue; in front of Quezon City Academy; near Corregidor Street, and the one near the Dario Bridge.