Osmeña seeks wider road to support Gorordo flyover

A second underpass and a wider F. Sotto Road in Cebu City is being pushed by Rep. Tomas Osmeña.

He said widening  the two-lane  F. Sotto Road near Asilo dela Milagrosa would allow two-way traffic and “complement” the proposed Gorordo Avenue flyover.

“All I have to do is to convince the lot owners (in the area) not to be tough on us (in acquiring road right of way),” said Osmeña in a  press conference  at his Guadalupe residence.

The flyover is one of two  suspended by the Department of Public Works and Highways last October 2011 amid opposition from traffic managers, urban planners and environment groups but proponents Rep. Cutie del Mar of the north district with  Osmeña of the south district continue to  press its revival.

Osmeña said he is  also  pushing for a new underpass in Block 10 of the North Reclamation Area to cut travel time from north to south.

Funding and plans to widen  F. Sotto Road  have not yet been approved by the DPWH.

The congressman said he sat down with Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson who assured that a technical survey would be made first.

“There is still no assurance from Secretary Singson if they will do the project.  That is why I need public support on this,” said the congressman, who has announced plans for running for Cebu City mayor in 2013.

Del Mar in an earlier interview said a survey was under way for the  acquisition of lots for road widening below the proposed Gorordo Avenue flyover.

F. Sotto Street, which connects to D. Jakosalem Street and Gen. Maxilom Avenue near the Iglesia ni Cristo church, is a one-way road.

Widening it would allow two-way traffic. To do this, a gasoline station near the Asilo dela Milagrosa would have to be removed.

Osmeña called the press conference to comment on recent political developments

Contrary to criticisms that he’s  sleeping on the job,  Osmeña said he’s  been working on projects for the city’s north and south districts.

The P150-million  rehabilitation of roads at the South Road Properties (SRP)  is scheduled for bidding and may be implemented in the next two years, he said.

Osmeña said he is also negotiating with the DPWH on a proposal to build a second underpass near Block 10 at the North Reclamation Area .

Block 10 is the parcel of land onwed by the Cebu city  government in the NRA, which is occupied by  the Community Scouts.

A  second underpass would reduce  travel time to 15 minutes from the Talisay City boundary of the SRP to the boundary between the cities of Mandaue and Cebu, he said.

Osmeña said he wanted the South Coastal Road (SCR) to become a freeway by closing access to its center islands.

He said business in the SRP is expected to pick up with the completion of the Filinvest condominium projects and SM mall.

The congressman said the price of lots at the SRP are  expected to soar once SM’s multi-million peso project is completed.

He said it will be at par with properties at the Asiatown IT Park and the Cebu Business Park.

“If we sell five to 10 hectares of land a year, that will already take care of our college scholarship program and the financial assistance for  senior citizens in Cebu City,” said Osmeña.