Mambaling flyover set to be opened today

CEBU, Philippines - The presence of an electric post in the middle of the road, dangling telephone wires and the absence of traffic signs prompted Mayor Michael Rama to postpone the scheduled opening of the newly-completed 420-meter flyover project along N. Bacalso Ave. in barangay Mambaling yesterday.

Rama quickly ordered City Traffic Operations Management chairman Sylvan “Jack” Jakosalem to see to it that these problems will be solved right away otherwise it will again disrupt the scheduled opening of the flyover to motorists at 2 p.m. today.

Jakosalem later informed The FREEMAN that he already talked to Erick Ching of the Visayan Electric Company, Sky Cable general manager Ronnie Pacio and a certain Bong Lintag to check their lines along the flyover.

“I already advised them to check now if it’s their cables dangling low above the flyover as tall trucks and buses will surely hit them,” Jakosalem said.

Engr. Willy T. Go of the WTG Construction, the contractor of the P110-million flyover project had assured Jakosalem and Rama that he will clear the area of whatever obstacles to make it ready for the motorists today.

“Kon makompleto og sayo, mahimong buksan nato ang flyover karong buntag,” Jakosalem had said. But Rama said they will again meet at the place at 9 a.m. today to assess the situation.

As of yesterday there was still a small portion of the center island some 50 meters away near the Kinalumsan river that might be hit by the south-bound vehicles that prompted the mayor it order it to be removed.

Rama also warned the drivers, particularly those from the south, to be careful while passing the flyover because some persons observed that there is an accident-prone portion of the flyover at the Mambaling Elementary School side.

While the flyover is only two-way lanes and curbing right towards the Mambaling Elementary School there might be an instance that speeding vehicles will overlap to the other lane and hit the vehicles coming from the opposite direction.

“Angay nila nga hinumdoman nga dili ni lumbaanay ang pag-agi sa flyover,” Rama reminded the drivers.

Department of Public Works and Highways district engineer Nicomedes Leonor said is hoping that he can already start the second phase of the project, the widening of the side roads, to make it two-way lanes on each side.

Traffic authorities are hoping that the flyover project, that spans the distance from CIT University to the Mambaling Elementary School, will ease traffic congestion along N. Bacalso Avenue. – (FREEMAN)