Quezon City authorities criticized Saturday the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) for putting up puzzling road signs and constructing dubious infrastructure projects befuddling motorists and leading to the rise of road mishaps in Metro Manila.

Vice Mayor Herbert Bautista said his office has received numerous complaints against the confusing vehicle lanes, pedestrian crossings that are blocked by islands and U-turn slots that are often removed or relocated.

Motorists have been wondering why U-turn slots were made in some sections of Commonwealth Avenue, negating the road expansion work on the roadway that caused the government millions of pesos.

Reporters covering the Congress beat said some lawmakers have faulted the MMDA for installing huge fishnets on the widened road, causing traffic snarls even during lean hours.

Other motorists grumble that the U-turn slots have made life more miserable for them due to the circuitous routes they have to negotiate leading to their destinations.

“Ang lalayo ng U-turn slots. Mahal na nga ang gasoline ganun pa ginagawa ng MMDA. Bukod dito lalong naging grabe pa ang trapik kahit sa lugar na hindi dati nagtatrapik,’’ a Quezon City-based supplier said.

Bautista said among the Quezon City roads affected by the outmoded traffic signs are Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA), Circumferential Road 5 (C-5), Katipunan Avenue and Commonwealth Avenue.

“Indistinguishable pedestrian lanes pose grave danger to our senior citizens and schoolchildren who trust those paint stripes unaware that motorists may no longer slow down or stop to allow them to pass,’’ Bautista said.

Supporters of former MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando said Bautista was merely resorting to “early politicking’’ when he criticized the traffic scheme of the agency.

They questioned the timing of the criticism against the MMDA’s “perceived needless road signs’’ at the point when Fernando is running for president in another party.

Only recently, the Liberal Party has endorsed Bautista and Joy Belmonte as the groups’ standard bearer for mayor and vice-mayor of Quezon City in the 2010 national elections.