Mambaling side roads now open

CEBU, Philippines — Traffic flow in the southern part of Cebu City is expected to improve with the opening of the southbound and northbound side roads of the underpass project along Natalio Bacalso Avenue.

Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) has opened both side roads starting 10:30 a.m. yesterday after the contractor of the project, WT Construction Inc., has completed the road works.

CCTO operation's chief Francisco Ouano told The FREEMAN that road concreting of the northbound side road was completed last Saturday.

On that day, he conducted an ocular inspection to check whether the area can already be used by motorists.

"Niadto ko sa area, okay naman siya. Pag Saturday lang ilaha to gilimpyohan para sa opening," Ouano said.

Supposedly, the opening of the northbound side road was last Nov. 24 but due to the tropical depression "Samuel", it was postponed.

With the recent development, both side roads will be utilized by PUJs and private vehicles.

"Okay na ang dagan karon. Naa guro'y pagdelay sa pagmove sa mga sakyanan during peak hours but dili na ingon grabe sama kaniadto," Ouano said.

As identified by CCTO, peak hours are from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Since August last year, traffic condition in the area was horrendous due to the construction of the P638 million underpass project.

In order to man the traffic, there are at least 16 traffic aides were deployed in the depressed area of the south district.

The identified diversion routes were Caimito St., Gancing St. and F.Llamas St. However, Ouano emphasized that all buses, mini-buses and delivery trucks should take the Cebu South Coastal Road (CSCR) as the side roads are only for light vehicles.

Meanwhile, WT Construction Inc., is now working on the middle portion of the underpass.

Department of Public Works and Highways-7 (DPWH-7) project engineer Roy Dela Cruz said the underpass is 82 percent complete and the target date of completion is May 28, 2019.

However, despite the opening of the side roads of underpass project, drivers are still encouraged to use the CSCR because a preventive maintenance project on the Mananga Bridge in Talisay City will start this month.

Provincial Focal on Traffic Management Jonathan Tumulak said that the opening of the two lanes will mean more traffic volume passing through Mananga Bridge in Barangay Tabunok.

“Ato lang unta i-divert ang dagko nga mga sakyanan adto sa SRP para maminusan ang traffic sa lugar,” he said.

Tumulak said that he already suggested to Zion Construction to include in their proposed traffic management plan to allow big trucks on Mananga Bridge only between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m.

The proposal is set to be heard by the local government of Talisay and other stakeholders within this week.

The implementation of the project will start on Nov. 29. Zion Construction was declared the winning bidder of the P44.3 million project. In an earlier report, the agency said they also need to replace the bridge’s girders as they are starting to sag and might fall off if left unattended.

The measures were supposed to be implemented in 2017. However, multiple factors like the presence of informal settlers below the bridge prevented DPWH from proceeding with it.

When the project kicks off, only two of the four-lane bridge can be utilized. As earlier reported, the bridge will be fully closed after 15 days since the start of the work for the full implementation of the repair works.

Tumulak said that the whole project may take three to four months to finish given that the contractor will work on it 24/7. (FREEMAN)