Mandaue to reroute vehicles in UN Avenue

CEBU, Philippines — Acting on the suggestion of Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, the Mandaue City Council has authorized to conduct a dry run for the rerouting of the vehicles at the intersection of U.N. Avenue.

The Metro Cebu Bridge Management Board (MCBMB) that Garcia heads has prioritized to address the traffic problem from the Marcelo Fernan Bridge proceeding to Cebu City.

The council has authorized the Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue (TEAM) to conduct a dry run for the re-routing of the vehicles plying the route of Plaridel Street proceeding to Barangay Paknaan and any adjacent route to and from any of the major thoroughfares in the city during peak hours.

The dry run shall cover the route of all vehicles coming from Plaridel Street and heading to Barangay Paknaan, which shall turn right from the intersection to proceed to the U-Turn slot underneath the Marcelo Fernan Bridge then turning right heading to a bridge linking Umapad and Paknaan

“Considering the effect of this new re-routing scheme, the TEAM Office is thereafter authorized to conduct an adjoining dry run at any relevant route to and from any of the major thoroughfares within the City, especially during peak hours,” read the resolution sponsored by Councilor Jimmy Lumapas, chairman of the Council committee on transportation.

Part of Garcia’s proposal to MCBMB is to let motorists traveling to northern Cebu via the Cansaga Bridge take the U-turn slot under the Marcelo Fernan Bridge.

Addressing the traffic problem to and from the Mactan-Cebu International Airport was one of the top concerns that were discussed during the MCBMB meeting last July 31.

Garcia said there is a need to improve the traffic management scheme and decongest vehicular traffic on roads surrounding the Marcelo Fernan Bridge, which connects the cities of Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue.

During the MCBMB meeting, the immediate solution seen by the Mandaue City Government will be, first of all, extending the traffic-light (time) settings.

Another option being considered by the Mandaue City government is to open an alternative route that motorists coming from Pacific Mall can use to avoid adding up to the volume of vehicles bound for Lapu-Lapu City.

Garcia said the main goal of decongesting U.N. Avenue is to keep vehicles from getting stuck at the second bridge. — GAN (FREEMAN)