Mandaue officials back flyover projects

UNLIKE Cebu City officials, the Mandaue City government supports the construction of a new tri-section flyover,  saying it can help decongest  traffic.

City Administrator James Abadia told Cebu Daily News that vehicles headed to the northern and southern parts of Cebu pass through Mandaue and a flyover would ease vehicular flow in the city.

Abadia made the statement amid calls by Road Revolution proponents to Cebu officials to conduct public consultations first before implementing infrastructure projects in their area.

Abadia said the tri-section flyover project to be built along the United Nations (UN) Avenue towards Plaridel Street next year was approved by Mandaue City Mayor Cortes early this year.

In supporting the project, Abadia cited as an example the Banilad flyover built near  Foodland.

“The traffic there before was very congested but now it’s okay,” he said.

“I’m not a traffic expert but the best possible solution is to consider the circumstances and area in building a flyover,” he said.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will start construction of three  flyovers in Mandaue City next year.

Engineer Nelson Cabezas, DPWH officer in charge of planning and design, said the P300-million budget for the first phase of the two flyovers in Ouano Avenue to Plaridel Street and UN Avenue to Plaridel Street was approved.

“During peak hours the area there is very congested but if the flyover will be realized, the traffic will surely be decongested,” Cabezas said.

He said trucks could pass under the flyover.

Abadia admitted that the flyover from Ouano Avenue to Plarid el Street may worsen  traffic since it’s near an intersection. He said Mayor Cortes ordered the City Engineering Office to conduct a study.’Reporters Candeze R. Mongaya and Jucell Marie P. Cuyos