On election day underpass to open for private vehicles

CEBU, Philippines — The underpass on Natalio Bacalso Avenue will be available to private vehicles starting midnight of May 11 until midnight of May 13 to accommodate the expected volume of traffic in the south district during the election day.

Cebu City Transportation Office operations chief Francisco Ouano said the tunnel is now passable to light vehicles since the concreting of the center lane had been completed.

“Nibisita ko kagahapon (Thursday) passable naman siya. Naa naman siya’y street lights, gamay nalang og kuwang sa construction,” he said. (It is already passable. Street lights are up and the construction is almost done)

He said they decided to open the underpass for two days in order to provide alternative roads for private vehicles during the elections. Ouano said they are expecting large volume of vehicles on Monday because of the elections.

“Atong gi-anticipate nga pwedeng modaghan, pwede sad dili. Might as well, daghan og access ang mamotaray kay kana siya dalan man gyud na nga gipaninguhaan sa DPWH-7 nga i-open,” he said.

CCTO and the Department of Public Works and Highways-7 have already posted traffic advisory to inform the public about the temporary opening of the tunnel. CCTO will deploy at least six traffic enforcers to man the vehicle traffic in the south district.

Public utility jeepneys (PUJs) will still utilize the northbound and southbound side roads of the underpass.

“Adto sila agi sa taas (side roads) para makakuha sila og pasahero kay kining ubos, ato ning i-exclusive sa private nga mga sakyanan para diretso-diretso ang dagan,” Ouano said.

The PUJs can also access other diversion routes such as Ganciang St., Caimito St., F.Llamas St., Tagunol St. and other nearby roads. All buses, mini buses and delivery trucks shall continue using the Cebu South Coastal Road (CSCR). — FPL (FREEMAN)