Half of Mananga Bridge in Talisay closed to traffic

CEBU, Philippines — Due to bridge maintenance works, the northbound lane of Mananga Bridge in Tabunok, Talisay City is temporarily closed while its southbound lane is used as a two-way street starting yesterday.

Provincial Focal Person on Traffic Management Jonathan Tumulak said that the stakeholders will still meet today at the Talisay City Hall to discuss the project details and what other traffic schemes can be put in place.

Among the participants in the coordination meeting are representatives of the Department of Public works and Highways (DPWH-7), Talisay City police, the contractor Zion Construction, City Engineering Office and City Traffic Office.

Tumulak added that they were not informed ahead about the project which is why the coordination meeting is done only a day after the project has started.

He expressed that high traffic volume will be expected in the area.

“Natiming ning projecka nga sa sunod semana ablihan na pud sa DPWH ang dalan, isig ka-side sa tunnel diha sa Mambaling. Kung pananglitan ablihan, maka-create gyud sya og volume sa mga sakyanan,” he said.

Due to the ongoing road concreting project of the northbound lane of Vestil St. in Barangay Mambaling, commuters and motorists have experienced heavy traffic.

Since October, only one side of the northbound lane is open to motorists because of the road concreting project of DPWH 7.

Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) operation’s chief Francisco Ouano told The FREEMAN that they observed  the traffic flow in the area is not good since Monday.

The northbound vehicles start to encounter the bad traffic from Mambaling access road up to the main thoroughfares.

He said horrendous traffic occurs during peak hours which are from 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. 

Traffic flow of southbound vehicles starts to move slow from Natalio Bacalso Ave. until Cebu South Coastal Road (CSCR).

In fact, one commuter who requested for anonymity said that it took her an hour and a half to travel from Colon Street up to a restaurant at South Road Properties (SRP) last Tuesday.

 “Grabe kaayo ang traffic, nigikan ko sa may Colon 5 p.m. then naa pako sa ma’y mall dapit mga 6:30 p.m. Hinay kaayo ang dagan sa sakyanan tungod sa kadaghan pud. Then ting uli sad tong mga orasa,” she told The FREEMAN.

Since August 2017, all northbound and southbound buses, mini buses, and delivery trucks are directed to use the CSCR because of the ongoing construction of underpass project on N. Bacalso Ave.

With the recent traffic condition, effective last Tuesday afternoon, the access road near the shopping mall was made available for both northbound and southbound vehicles to help alleviate traffic.

“Moluag-luag man siya nga mabahin man ang sakyanan, expected gyud na nga ma-traffic during peak hours,” Ouano said.

Other than that, at least four traffic enforcers were assigned to man the traffic in the area. He asked the public to be patient since the road concreting project is for also for the motorists.

Ouano said the projected date of completion will be next month. — MBG (FREEMAN)