Motorists, commuters advised

CEBU, Philippines - Motorists and commuters plying S. Osmeña Boulevard are advised to brace for heavy traffic as the Phase 2 of the road-concreting project in the area has started yesterday.

Cebu City Traffic Operations Management operations chief Joy Tumulak, however, said the traffic congestion during peak periods could somehow be addressed if motorists will “seriously” follow the road signs and if the riding public will leave their respective areas prior to the peak hours.

In anticipation to this, CITOM has already deployed 10 traffic enforcers to man the traffic on J. De Vera Street corner General Maxilom Avenue; Jose Briones Street corner Gen. Maxilom Avenue; S. Osmeña Boulevard corner Gen. Maxilom Ave; Juan Luna Avenue Extension corner J. De Vera Street; J. Luna corner J. Briones Street; and J. Luna corner S. Osmeña Boulevard.

Tumulak said traffic congestion is expected to form along J. De Vera Street and J. Briones Street going south.

He said they already placed concrete barriers along the thoroughfares and installed sufficient traffic signage along the route.

While the project is ongoing, Jose Briones Street, J. De Vera Street, and Arellano Street will serve as diversion routes of vehicles from north to south. Baclig Avenue (Cebu Port Authority service road), on the other hand, will be used as alternative routes for vehicles bound for the north.

Phase 1 of the project involved concreting half of the stretch of S. Osmeña Boulevard from Pier 5 to Pier 4 while Phase 2 will involve concreting the other side of the road, which would last for more than two months. The entire project is scheduled to be completed by the end of November.

The P289-million rehabilitation project covers 2.503 kilometers of S. Osmeña Boulevard from the bridge near the Cebu International Port that connects Cebu City to Mandaue City, to Palma Street, near the subway across Plaza Independencia.

Vehicular traffic going north can now also traverse through the completed Phase 1 project, Tumulak announced, following the traffic dry run yesterday.

Tumulak said the opening of the road made yesterday’s traffic “smooth,” hoping that it would continue in the following days.

“Hapsay ang atong trapiko. Ang problema lamang kadtong mga drivers nga kusog magpadagan sa sementadong bahin sa dalan bisan dunay warning sign nga ‘slow down’,” he said. 

Motorists are advised to observe speed limit of 20 to 40 kilometer per hour. — (FREEMAN)