Mandaue City to re-route traffic on UN Avenue

CEBU, Philippines — Commuters passing UN Avenue can now expect a more free-flowing traffic system starting Sunday, September 22.

Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue (TEAM) head Architect Florentino Nimor Jr. announced that a re-routing will be implemented to improve the traffic situation in the area.

Vehicles coming from Cansaga Bridge traveling to Cebu will no longer be able to cross directly to D.M. Cortes Street. Instead, they would need to take a right turn to UN Avenue towards Pacific Mall where they will then turn left to P. Burgos Street. The vehicles could then turn right to AC Cortes to be directed to D.M. Cortes.

Similarly vehicles from Cebu going to northern municipalities and cities passing D.M. Cortes could not directly cross Cansaga Bridge. Instead, they will be re-routed to UN Avenue where they will pass under the second bridge to make a U-turn to join the traffic from the bridge and then turn right to Cansaga.

The daily average of vehicles traveling towards the second bridge is 28,377 while vehicles coming from the bridge amount to 20,788. The system was devised because travelers coming from and to Cebu take up the least number of traffic in the intersection. At least 6,571 travel to Cebu from Cansaga while 7,337 of cars from Cebu pass by Cansaga.

This system will be implemented on Sunday starting 5 a.m. However, the first day of implementation would still be a dry-run so the TEAM could "fine-tune" the new system for the weekdays.

The traffic lights at the intersection will be shut down on Saturday at 6 a.m. to give time for contractors to change the lenses. This system was first proposed during the Mactan-Cebu Bridge Management Board.

Governor Gwendolyn Garcia pushed for the re-routing system to eradicate heavy traffic since guests coming from the airport pass by the intersection and it would be "their first impression of Cebu."

Although Nimor said TEAM was already contented with their initial re-routing of jeepneys, he said that this move is in compliance with the Bridge Board.

"Tungod sa meeting sa Bridge Management Board-- di sa napugos, na-encourage lang mi to put a traffic intervention dihang dapita," Nimor clarified.

This system of decongestion, however, is not new. It was proposed some years back by Nimor. (FREEMAN)