THE PROBLEM: The Ayala Avenue and EDSA intersection gets so congested during rush hours it’s mind boggling why authorities would approve putting an oversize plant box in the middle of the road. Not only is this obstructing traffic flow and a potential hazard at night, it must have caused the government unnecessary expenses too.
THE INCIDENT: Admittedly this doesn’t cause much of a problem on odd hours when the volume of traffic is small, such that cars and busses can take their normal lines while crossing the intersection. However, when rush hour hits, and the volume of vehicles increases ten folds, that small obstruction causes havoc in traffic flow.
Vehicles going straight through EDSA aren’t affected that much, the bulk of the problem is experienced by vehicles from Ayala Avenue turning left to going to EDSA. Due to the high volume of left turning vehicles, motorists are forced to take a wider line in turning, so what is essentially a single lane left turning on off peak hours turns into four lanes during rush hours.
Now this used to be not a problem, but now, lanes three and four will encounter this oversize plant box in the middle of the intersection and have to navigate around it.
So imagine this: your lining up to turn left to EDSA, the traffic is crawling cause vehicles are going around this plant box, and when you get to the middle of the intersection the lights turn red. Bang!
You’re stuck there in the middle thinking I could have crossed faster if not for this stupid thing in the middle. Now we’re both causing major traffic.
SHOULDA COULDA WOULDA: Any person with half a brain knows that traffic flow is efficient when there’s nothing obstructing it. Our government has spent millions in road-widening projects, sidewalk clearing operations, etc. all in the name of removing congestions and bottlenecks in traffic. Removing this plant box and the person who thought of it probably is the only solution here.
Photos by Miko Almario
MORE SHOULDA COULDA WOULDA:
– Road barrier in Shaw Boulevard confuses motorists
– No one stops for pedestrians at this lane in Salcedo Village
– Deformed floor panels at 6750 Steel Carpark
– Too many ‘Do not enter’ signs on Wilson/Arras Sts
– ‘No right turn on red signal’ on Paseo de Roxas
– Dark road to Bonifacio Global City
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