DPWH says flyover to ease congestion in Banilad area

Officials of the Department of Public Works and Highways yesterday assured the city council that the traffic congestion in Banilad area would be solved by 70 percent once the construction of the half-kilometer-length flyover worth P126 million at corner Governor Cuenco Avenue and A.S. Fortuna Street will be completed.

Engr. Leah Negre, head of the DPWH-7 highway design section, said the motorists would also benefit from the project because the estimates showed that approximately 30,000 motorists who are frequently passing by in said place everyday will save about P172 million in travel cost for a period of 20 years.

Negre, however, admitted that their agency still lacks P21 million to finish the project, but other DPWH officials are hoping that Cebu City north district Rep. Raul del Mar would still allocate the needed amount.

The P65 million allocated for the construction of said flyover project was sourced out from the Priority Development Assistance Fund of del Mar that was originally intended for the construction of a flyover in Juan Luna Avenue in Mabolo, but would be realigned for the same project in Banilad.

Because the 590-meter-length flyover to be constructed in Banilad is being cost at P126 million, this prompted the DPWH-7 to allocate P40 million from its infrastructure funds, but that it still needs an additional P21 million for the scheduled completion.

Not one city councilor is opposed to the project, but councilor Jocelyn Pesquera expressed she's afraid that the congestion problem in Banilad areas would still linger even after the construction of the flyover.

Pesquera said that while the approach of the flyover would be located near the Mahiga creek, vehicles coming from barangay Apas that will be passing beside Gaisano Country Mall and will make a left turn to Talamban would be obstructing vehicles proceeding to Cebu City proper coming from the flyover. - Rene U. Borromeo