SRP tunnel no entry for trikes, motorbikes

CEBU, Philippines — Three-wheeled vehicles and below are no longer allowed entry inside the tunnel connecting to the South Road Properties (SRP) as its rehabilitation is set to begin in two weeks and partial road closure will be implemented.

Lawyer Kent Jongoy, assistant head of the Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO), said the diversion routes, both from the Southern and Northern ends, are already identified to cater to this looming tunnel rehabilitation.

Based on the board resolution issued by the Traffic Management Coordination Committee (TMMC), the partial road closure of the tunnel will be implemented on July 18, 2024.

According to Jongoy, they are only implementing partial road closure for the right-most lanes of both directions for six to seven months. He added the rehabilitation will be headed by the Department of the Public Works and Highways (DPWH) which civil works will be divided into three components.

First is the repair and rehabilitation of the light system as its current situation is no longer suitable for driving.

"The contractor also told us nga they will change the distance. So closer na ang interval sa atong light system dira, they will also increase the lumens, naa na gyud na by that time," said Jongoy.

The second phase of the rehabilitation is the painting of the sidewalls and the ceilings which will serve as reflective light. According to Jongoy, this is an international standard that ought to be implemented. The reflective light is also another factor for illumination.

The last phase is the rehabilitation and repair of the hairline cracks. Jongoy said this would serve as preventive measures to address the damage they have found during the inspection.

Jongoy alongside the Traffic Management Council (TMC), the DPWH, the Technical Infrastructure Committee (TIC), and the City's Engineering Office, conducted an ocular inspection of the CSCR tunnel on June 13, 2024.

As preparatory measures, Jongoy said they are now laying down access roads, particularly on the top of the tunnel. He added they are implementing continuous clearing of the national roads connecting near the Compania Maritima going to Legazpi Street.

Among the primary features during the closure is limiting the entry of vehicles entering the tunnel. Vehicles that have three wheels and below will no longer be allowed entry.

"For the very reason nga if we only have one lane, and we know that kasagaran gyud, daghan kaayog swerving ba nga pagabuhaton sa atong mga drivers of motorcycles and then we only have one lane available for them, it might end up into road crashes," said Jongoy.

"Worst case scenario is that they will crash into the scaffolding that will be there for six to seven months that will entail danger," he added.

In line with this, Jongoy said that only vehicles with four wheels and above will be allowed entry as they will be implementing a scheme where only one lane will be allowed to be traversed.

The alternative routes have two options for motorists. This includes traversing through M.J. Cuenco Avenue going to the front of the Compañía Marítima Building, heading to the thoroughfare of the SRP.

Another alternative route is through the access road from MC Briones at the back of the Senior Citizens Park, just in front of the Cebu City Mayor’s Office – the ML Quezon Boulevard. Jongoy, however, said that it is only a one-way access road. — (FREEMAN)