EDSA traffic to increase 10 percent due to ‘Christmas rush’

THE Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said Monday that vehicular traffic along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) is expected to increase by 10 percent due to the “Christmas rush.”

Some  417,000 vehicles are currently traversing EDSA every day, the MMDA said.

“Bago po sa Christmas rush, halos pareho lang po ang vehicular volume along EDSA,” said MMDA Spokesperson Melissa Carunungan during Malacañang’s Laging Handa public briefing. “Pero po dahil sa Christmas rush, may increase po at inaasahan namin na around 10 percent increase po in the coming days po.”

The MMDA also said that in light of the anticipated increase of vehicle volume, it has been conducting a series of clearing operations on Mabuhay Lanes to decongest vehicular traffic along main roads, including EDSA.

Meanwhile, the estimated travel speed on EDSA is 16 kilometers per hour, up slightly from the 11 km/hr record during the pre-pandemic years.

“At least po ay mas mabilis pa rin ang travel speed kahit mas madami or halos pareho iyong mga sasakyan. Sa tingin po ng Traffic Engineering Center ng MMDA, ito po ay dahil sa bus carousels, sa traffic management at dahil po sa disiplinado rin ang mga drivers,” said Carunungan.

Carunungan likewise advised drivers to use Mabuhay Lanes  to avoid traffic on major thoroughfares during the holidays.

The MMDA adjusted mall operating hours from November 14 until January 6, 2023, in response to the anticipated surge in traffic volume during the holiday season.

During the said date, malls would operate from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.

The MMDA also announced the temporary suspension of excavation activities along national roads in Metro Manila during the said period.

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