No re-routing

CEBU, Philippines —  Although traffic congestion in the ongoing construction site of the Cebu BRT project is now felt, the Cebu City Transportation Office has no plans of doing some re-routing, but is instead looking at improving traffic signages and information dissemination t for a better traffic flow in the area.

The country’s first BRT project has now begun demolition of the center island of Osmeña Boulevard from the corner of Arlington Pond up to the corner of Urgello Street.

One lane on each side is closed which causes heavy traffic during peak hours.

“Ang dagan sa atong traffic, medyo average na gyud. Then during the peak hours, ma-feel gyud nato nga naay bottlenecks,” said Paul Gotiong, head of CCTO public mass transportation division.

No re-routing is set although alternate routes are also provided as options, the city’s PIO reported.

Construction works along Osmena Boulevard are just short, Gotiong said, adding that traffic remains flowing.

Package 1 of the BRT project covers a 2.38-kilometer segregated bus lane with four bus stations and a 1.15-kilometer of pedestrian improvement.

CCTO is also in constant communication with the contractor, the Hunan Road and Bridge Construction Group of China, which makes it easier for them to know of the next move to be done.

Engr. Bo Varquez, the city’s overseer of the BRT project, also disclosed that phase 1 is done by sectioning, with each section’s timetable set at three to four weeks to be able to beat the December 2023 deadline set by President Bongbong Marcos Jr.

CCTO is also looking at improving signages so the motorists are alerted in advance of the situation, especially those who are not yet aware of the project.

“Ato nang gihinay-hinay og improve ang atong mga signages para ma-aware daan ang atong mga motorista in advance kay we all know, from the three to four lane man gud atong gihimong isa,” Gotiong added.

CCTO is just asking for everyone’s understanding since this is something that the Cebuanos have long been waiting to happen.

“Nagsugod na gyud finally ang atong Cebu BRT project. Ang hangyo ra gyud sa CCTO sa mga motorista is pasensya lang gyud, mubo ra kaayo ning ilang scope of work nato, atong gisurado na naa tay saktong mga signages and mga pahibalo…as long as mo-follow lang gyud ta, sunod lang gyud ta, mohapsay ra gyud ang  atong lugar nga ilang gitrabahuan,“ Gotiong said.

The initial operation of the BRT, which is expected to happen next year, is seen to accommodate not less than 60 thousand commuters daily and 160 thousand in its full operations by 2025.

To do this, the Department of Transportation is looking at having 83 12-meter buses in the opening year.

While package 1 is ongoing, DOTr also looks to open the bidding for package 2 soon. This will have a 10.8-kilometer segregated bus lane with 13 bus stations from SRP to IT Park.

Package 3, the final phase of the project, on the other hand, covers 22.2 feeder routes with 76 bus stops including feeder terminals in Talamban and Talisay City.  – JMD (FREEMAN)