Mandaue puts up highway Traffic barriers

CEBU, Philippines - To help ease traffic congestion, Mandaue City has implemented a modified re-routing scheme on M.C. Briones National Highway near the Pacific Mall in Barangay Ibabao.

This, after the Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue observed that heavy flow is experienced in the area, particularly during rush hours.

TEAM director Edwin Ermac said traffic barriers have been put up on the highway’s entire stretch to prevent motorists from crossing to the other lane just anytime.

"Katong mga mag-agi sa rightmost lane, di na unya sila makasud sa inner lane. Ang sa inner lane, di na sila makasud sa outermost lane. Usa sa maapektuhan unya niini mao kadtong mga abusadong driver nga magpataka lang og sud-gawas sa karsada," Ermac told reporters yesterday.

Under the new scheme, vehicles heading to UN Avenue will have to make a right turn to R. Colina Street in Barangay Ibabao, and a left turn once they reach S.B. Cabahug Street.

"Sa maong pamaagi, ngadto na unya sila moagi sa rightmost lane atbang sa Pacific Mall," Ermac added.

He said it will not be hard for motorists to follow the new scheme as TEAM will be putting signage to guide them with the route changes.

"Ato lang gihangyo atong mga drayber nga mosunod gyud sila. Ang luyo sad sa Pacific Mall gi-one way na nato paingon sa Mandaue City maong nikusog ug niluag ang dagan sa trapiko sa may U.N. Avenue," he further stressed.

Relief

Meanwhile, Ermac also said there was a very light to moderate flow of traffic in the city yesterday when a new traffic scheme was implemented in Mandaue City and Cebu city.

However, Ermac said it’s Cebu City that is having traffic problems this time with the new scheme in effect.

The new scheme allows both cities to share traffic burden due to ongoing works on S. Osmeña Boulevard at the Cebu City side of the North Reclamation Area.

During their next board meeting, Ermac will raise the possibility of allowing big trucks to enter M. Logarta Street during truck ban in order to ease traffic flow in Cebu City side.

"Just recently, nanawag si (CITOM operations chief) Joy Tumulak nako nga nihangyo nga during truck ban, mosud sila sa dan M. Logarta," Ermac said.

Yesterday, the TEAM board has approved this request.

Big trucks coming from Cebu City are now allowed to pass by M. Logarta Street between 5 to7 p.m. or during the duration of the truck ban, Ermac said.

If these trucks enter Mandaue City, they will converge at Pier 7 while waiting for the ban to be lifted.

"Di sad mahimo ba nga ang Cebu City mihatag sa atong gipangayo, unya di lang ta magpakabana sa ilang problema," Ermac said.

Ermac said the only traffic problem they saw in Mandaue with the new scheme being implemented was the slow flow of big vehicles such as prime movers.

There, however, was no problem with the small vehicles as there has been a continued flow of traffic in the lanes designated for them, Ermac added.  (FREEMAN)