All DPWH road projects suspended

Holiday moratorium

CEBU, Philippines — Excluding the P638-million underpass project along Natalio Bacalso Avenue, all road projects of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Cebu City shall be temporarily stopped from December 16 until the Sinulog Festival.

Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) Operations Head Francisco Ouano told The FREEMAN that this is in accordance with the city’s moratorium of all road works.

The moratorium will pave way for drivers and commuters to have a sigh of relief by not experiencing heavy traffic during the yuletide season and Sinulog Festival celebration.

“Nagpahibaw ta sa publiko nga by December 16 naa ta’y moratorium, meaning to say tanang projects sa DPWH ihunong na siya until mahuman ang Sinulog. At least ang mga motorista ug katawhan maka-enjoy sa December except aning sa underpass sa (Barangay) Mambaling,” Ouano said.

He said the ongoing works for the underpass project on Natalio Bacalso Avenue would not affect the traffic flow in the south district at present.

“Dili mana matabunan ang ilahang project, besides passable ang both sides,” Ouano said.

DPWH-7 Engr. Roy Dela Cruz said there are only few road projects implemented in the city. These are the road rehabilitation near the Cebu South Coastal Road (CSCR) viaduct and rehabilitation of flood structures along J. Luna St., Salinas Drive, Barangay Mabolo, Cebu City.

Since November 20, the ongoing rehabilitation of road structures along J. Luna St. was already stopped due to the traffic woes.

Dela Cruz, project engineer of the underpass project, said it is a good development that the project along Natalio Bacalso Avenue is exempted in the city government's moratorium.

He believed that the ongoing works will not affect the traffic flow considering they are now working on the center portion of it.

“Okay na kay dili mana maka-disrupt ang work diha kay naa naman ta underpass proper, naa naman ta sa middle portion. Dili man ta maka-affect sa traffic kay open naman ang side roads. Whether we work or not, dili maka-affect kay ang concentration naa raman sa tunga,” Dela Cruz said.

The middle portion is the phase V and VI for the underpass project.

The project is composed of six phases. The first phase is in front of a fast food chain, the second is in front of the shopping center.

Its third phase is located near the corner of F. Llamas St. and the fourth phase is in the northbound lane of Natalio Bacalso Avenue.

To recall, both side roads of the underpass is available to traffic. From 6 a.m. to 8 a.m., both side roads are exclusive for northbound vehicles.

While southbound vehicles will access diversion routes such as Ganciang St., Caimito St., F. Llama St., and among others.

Then from 8 a.m. onwards, both side roads will be utilized by northbound and southbound vehicles.

Dela Cruz said the underpass project is now 85 percent complete as of press time.

“Hopefully March next year, mahuman ta kay maayo man ang panahon or earlier than March next year mahuman ta,” he said. (FREEMAN)