Dad frownsat delay in underpass construction

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Councilor David Tumulak criticized the delay in the underpass project along Natalio Bacalso Avenue undertaken by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and contractor WT Construction.

Tumulak visited the project site yesterday and discovered that only 10 hours are spent each day for the construction, instead of the planned 24-hour daily operation.

“Slow movement ang operation and not 24 hours. Hinay. Ilang trabaho is 7 o’clock up to 5 p.m., dili 24/7. Mao na ilang (DPWH) giingon (nga) 24/7, but wala? I-24/7 para madali mahuman. Kay the more nga imong gilangay mura ba’g prolong ang agony ba sa kanang muagi dira ba,” he said.

DPWH Project Inspector Engr. Josue Raoul Miole said that the planned 24/7 operation cannot be implemented yet since they are still waiting for the delivery of the lacking materials needed for the project.

Miole said they are also considering the nearby establishments and residents who will have to bear with the noise of the construction once it takes full swing.

“Di pa man na sila makasugod sa ilang 24 hours karon kay napa sila’y mga kulang nga materyales, di pa sila maka-full blast ba. Pero amo pangitaan og paagi. Two months or three months makasugod na sila anang 24/7 or kung mas sayo-sayo, depende sa availability sa ilang gikinahanglan nga mga materyales,” he said.

Tumulak said there are portions of the site where no construction is currently done, however, the public could not utilize them since the road was closed.

Disappointed

“I’m also disappointed with the contractor, WT Construction, ‘cause when I visit their project site just this morning, dako kaayo'g hawan. Why’d they close the road? Gi-close unta nila if they are ready. It’s additional burden on an ordinary worker. It’s a burden to an ordinary student to wake up early,” he said.

“So, makita sad nato didto, sayang kaayo ang lane nga wa gigamit, no activities at all. Meanwhile, outside the tunnel project, motorist, workers, students, nag-antos intawn sa heavy traffic. The effect on the passengers, especially motorists from the South district, is getting worse.” Tumulak added.

He said that he will talk to DPWH to advise them to open up some lanes during peak hours so that there would be a free flow of traffic.

He suggested that during peak hours, one lane on either side will be opened and both will be heading one way from south to the city in the morning from 6 to 8, then in the afternoon, the same lanes will be open, but both will already be heading one way from the city back to south.

Peak hours

“So we would rather advise them, if that’s the case, how about atong i-open ang both sides during peak hours. And they will continue their activity right after the peak hours,” he said.

“For example, gikan ka sa South Pardo, facing Cebu City, one lane ra man ilang gi-open, katong other remaining road, katong supposedly Colon towards South, i-open to siya free way towards City, balihon ba, one way one way ba. Ug gikan pud ka inig gabii sad, from the city to South, one way sad ka para diretso-diretso makauli ang mga taw,” he explained.

After peak hours, the construction will continue and it will return to the original scenario, where the outermost northbound lane will be the only one open, he said.

“That’s the only solution,” he said.

According to Miole, the underpass project has already been delayed for two or three months since the CITOM and city officials requested for the diversion roads to be repaired for public use.

“Ila gyud nang gipaningkamotan nga madali, delay ra biya pud ang project, so para ma-cope up gyud tawn ang delays,” he said.

Alternate routes

Tumulak said that the DPWH failed in their promise to fix the alternate routes or diversion roads before the closure of lanes in N. Bacalso Avenue.

Miole said that they have been continually patching and fixing the alternative routes using asphalt, not cement. However, the roads keep getting damaged because of weather conditions. (FREEMAN)