Road project begins this month

CEBU, Philippines - The P289 million Sergio Osmeña Boulevard rehabilitation project will proceed this month.

Yesterday, the Cebu City government, the Department of Public Works and Highways and private stakeholders agreed to close a portion of the street starting March 18 to pave the way for Phase 1 of the project.

At the City Hall yesterday, Mayor Michael Rama, DPWH-7 Project Engineer Rogelio Macapobre, Cebu Port Authority acting Deputy General Manager and legal Affairs Department Manager lawyer Yusop Uckung, WT Construction represented by its Vice-President Willy Te and Cokaliong Shipping Lines Inc. CEO Chester Cokaliong signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

The project was supposed to begin last March 11, but the stakeholders opposed the road closure because they were not informed properly about the move and were not given ample time to prepare for the closure.

The project covers 2.503 kilometers from the bridge near the Cebu International Port (which connects Cebu City to Mandaue City) to Palma Street near the subway near the Plaza Independencia.

Phase 1 of the project will involve concreting half of the stretch of S. Osmeña Boulevard from Pier 5 to Pier 4 while Phase 2 will involve concreting the other half.

The first two phases are expected to be completed in five months and the entire project is scheduled to be completed by end of November.

While the project is ongoing, Juan Luna Avenue Extension, Jose Briones Street, General Maxilom Avenue, J. De Vera and E.S. Baclig Avenue (Cebu Port Authority service road) will be used as alternative routes for vehicles plying S. Osmeña Boulevard.

“There is a need to undergo rerouting of the vehicles traversing along S. Osmeña Boulevard to implement the said project (rehabilitation of S. Osmeña Boulevard Port Corridor) smoothly and safely,” the MOU reads.

“The S.Osmeña road going North which consists of the island and three lanes shall be closed first and subjected by the concreting. The road going south shall continue to be free flowing during the construction and will only be touched after the first phase of the project is done,” the MOU reads further.

The Cebu City Traffic Operations Management said General Maxilom Avenue shall serve as entry point and Juan Luna Avenue shall serve as exit point.

Baclig Avenue will have general entry of vehicle traffic from the North and the South.

Once Phase 1 is completed, the parties concerned will meet “to discuss and study the impact of the said project in the area.”

CITOM is expected to submit a regular report of the traffic condition along S. Osmeña Boulevard. —/JMO (FREEMAN)