New road scheme in place: Brace for heavy traffic in South

CEBU, Philippines — The public is advised to brace for heavy traffic in Cebu City south as a new traffic scheme will be in place today to pave way for the start of construction for the fourth phase of the underpass project in Barangay Mambaling.

Effective yesterday afternoon, the southbound lane of N. Bacalso Avenue in Cebu City was made exclusive for vehicles heading north.

The Cebu City Transportation Office changed the earlier plan after it observed that caused heavy traffic for up to 17 hours during the dry run last Saturday.

Joe Ann Elarcosa, 22, a resident of Barangay Pardo, was caught in traffic for two hours and arrived at work late. She said many were not aware of the dry run for the new traffic scheme.

“Daghan ang dili aware ba bisag dry run rato. Nya ang bag-o nga route kay gamay ug di maka-sustain sa kadaghan sa sakyanan,” she told The FREEMAN.

The transportation office started disseminating information about the new traffic plan only last week.

Vehicles have to be rerouted as the contractor of the underpass project on N. Bacalso Avenue and F. Llamas Street starts work on the fourth phase of the project.

Until last week, both northbound and southbound vehicles could pass through the southbound lane of N. Bacalso Avenue.

This time around, southbound vehicles will have to use smaller access roads, like Tagunol Street, Caimito Street, Ganciang Street, and F. Llamas Street, among others.

Traffic officials will assess the situation today and decide if there is a need to recalibrate plans.

Meanwhile, all northbound and southbound buses, minibuses, and delivery trucks will have to use the Cebu South Coastal Road (CSCR).

The new traffic scheme will be in place for three months.

“Makita ra sa bag-ong traffic plan within N. Bacalso Ave. and F. Llamas so far maayo man ang dagan, kana lang gyud ang ubang sakyanan, wala kibaw nga passable na ang N. Bacalso one side. Then adto sila sa alternate routes, maong ma locked up sila,” said CCTO operations chief Francisco Ouano.

Based on the dry run over the weekend, heavy traffic occurred on Tagunol Street where majority of the Public Utility Jeepneys (PUJs) passed going to the city proper.

Ouano said they will operate the traffic light on F. Vestil Street manually so they can decongest Tagunol Street.

“Ipa-manual ang F. Vestil area kay once mahabwa ang Tagunol area, dili na kaayo ma-locked up sa sulod… one lane ra man gud na sila,” Ouano said.

Heavy traffic is expected today, Monday.

Barangay tanods will be deployed in the area to help at least 12 traffic enforcers man traffic. Policemen will also be deployed to maintain peace and order.

Councilor David Tumulak, chairman of the Council’s committee on public order and safety, said Kaohsiung buses will be deployed to ferry commuters, free of charge – four in Barangay Bulacao for northbound passengers and four others in Bayabas Street in Barangay Mambaling for southbound commuters. (FREEMAN)