The much-talked about construction of the Banilad flyover has started even if we don’t see any barriers being put up yet as of this writing.
We passed the area last Saturday night and all seemed well so far. We of course know how bad the traffic situation there is without the construction, so we expect it to become worse once several lanes would be closed.
The best way to avoid the traffic is not to pass the place.
Sometimes taking the longer way to our destination actually saves us more time and fuel.
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Here’s something from our reader that we’d like to share with you.
We have been reading lots and lots of news reports about how the Ban-Tal flyover has been causing traffic, how its been affecting people and what the Cebu and Mandaue government agencies especially CITOM and TEAM has been responding to the situation. I feel here are some aspects where we need to improve:
1. Lack of Signages.
I read that CITOM has placed a large sign regarding the odd-even scheme. Although the odd-even scheme is now scrapped, I think signages are very basic. You don’t need a situation to put them out. As much as possible, there should be many signages informing motorists to use which lanes far from the area. For example, put signages like ‘left turn lane ahead’, this way, motorists shall use the right lane for the through lane and shall not make sudden lane changes which shall cause traffic and accidents.
2. The lack of enforcement of traffic regulations.
For example I really can’t understand why traffic enforcers shall allow PUJs to use the major hi way here in Mandaue as ‘passenger terminals’. Everytime I pass by the national hi way, PUJs would occupy 2 lanes of the hi way across San Miguel Corp. and in the Metrobank portion leaving only 1 lane for hundreds of motorists driving through.
For example, long before the Ban-Tal flyover situation arose, the Banilad road was already very congested and yet no changes in the traffic rules were implemented. Left turns were still allowed to Country Mall and Banilad Town Centre, PUJs were still allowed to stop anywhere, thus blocking 1 of the lane of the 2 lanes.
No left turns and no stopping are being implemented now as the flyover is being constructed. My question is after the construction of the flyover, left turns to Country Mall and Banilad Town Centre shall be allowed? And PUJs shall be allowed to stop anywhere on the road?
Why not let PUJs load and unload passengers in the secondary roads? This way, passengers need to walk to and from the PUJs thus creating foot traffic and thus creating business to other parts of the area. In highly urbanized cities like Hong Kong, people walk a lot.
Hope the CITOM and TEAM shall consider these comments.
Glenn Lim
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Thanks for the email Glenn. Some of your ideas seem workable and we hope that our traffic authorities would keep their eyes and minds open to suggestions that might help them improve the delivery of public service.
While there are experts who could teach us traffic engineering, most often, the people who pass the place regularly can give us a better view of the situation than the experts who would visit the place only a few times.
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For your comments, complaints and suggestions please feel free to contact us through 2531276 local 237.
You can also send email to nimrod@mozcom.com.