Traffic on S. Osmeña Blvd rerouted anew

CEBU, Philippines - Motorists are again expected to endure heavy traffic along S. Osmeña Boulevard starting today because of the resumption of the road rehabilitation project.

The Cebu City Traffic Operations Management is implementing a rerouting for some public utility vehicles traversing the road.

CITOM operations chief Joy Tumulak said PUJs with route numbers 12I and 03Q are no longer allowed to pass through Cabahug Street, at the back of SM City Cebu. Instead, 12I drivers are advised to take Kaohsiung Street, A. Soriano Avenue, F. Cabahug Street and F. Urot Street. While, 03Q are to traverse the route from Mabolo to J. Luna Street down to Humabon Street then left turn to J. Luna Street then back to their original route.

Trucks from Mandaue areas bound to Cebu International Port can pass along M. Logarta Street, left turn to F. Cabahug Street straight to CIP. Drivers can take A. Soriano Avenue going to General Maxilom Avenue to Pier 4 as an alternative route. The southbound lane from Mahiga Bridge until corner F. Cabahug Street  will be closed to traffic. Only northbound vehicles will be allowed to pass through S. Osmeña Boulevard from Radisson Blu Hotel to Mahiga Bridge. The temporary route will be observed for at least one week.

Tumulak said this is to test how the rerouting would affect the flow of traffic in the area. CITOM has identified at least four chokepoints, such as S. Osmeña Boulevard corners F. Cabahug Street and F. Urot Street and Kaohsiung Street corner A. Soriano Avenue.

Additional personnel will be deployed in the area to direct the traffic. Mandaue’s traffic enforcement agency headed by Edwin Ermac will also field traffic enforcers along the intersection of Ouano Avenue corner Aboitiz Sports Field in Subangdaku.

The Mandaue’s traffic team assured to help Cebu City ease the flow of traffic in the identified chokepoints. The road project covers 2.503 kilometers from the bridge near the CIP to Palma Street near the subway at the Plaza Independencia.

Meanwhile, the city government has turned down the request of SM Prime Holdings Inc. through its regional operations manager for the Visayas, Sherry Tuvilla, to temporary suspend the project to give way to the SM City’s three-day sale on March 13 to 15. — (FREEMAN)