Citom pushes P600-M flyover funds for road widening

INSTEAD of spending P600 million for two flyover projects, the amount could be aligned for road-widening projects to decongest existing ones, Cebu City traffic officials said yesterday.

Rafael Yap, Cebu City Integrated Traffic Operations (Citom) chief, said the two-lane Hernan Cortes road in Mandaue City could be used as an alternative road in place of Governor Cuenco Avenue once it is widened.

Yap said Reps. Rachel del Mar and Luigi Quisumbing of Cebu City’s north district and Cebu’s 6th district respectively could pool their pork barrel funds to widen Hernan Cortes road.

The Citom chief said their office is working on a traffic study on Gov. Cuenco Avenue, which they started in June, aimed at determining what interventions are needed to decongest traffic along the city’s northern corridor.

Yap said the traffic study was ordered by the City Council to evaluate the impact of traffic flow on the Cuidad project along the Banilad-Talamban corridor.

Yap said the Citom study included Salinas Drive and Archbishop Reyes Avenues, which lead to Gov. Cuenco Avenue.

He said the Citom study consists of a field survey, road measurements and travel time schedules.

Yap said initial results of their study showed that road widening is critical in addressing traffic congestion.

Citom passed last Thursday a resolution to oppose plans to build two new flyover projects in Cebu City.

Yap said a more comprehensive traffic study would include travel time data and assessment of traffic in nearby intersections among other factors.

Yap said a flyover along the intersection of M. J. Cuenco and General Maxilom Avenues would have been justified if the Sacred Heart for Boys school is still there.

The school already moved into its new campus in barangay Canduman in Mandaue City.

If the flyover projects push through, Yap said traffic lights should be installed to regulate vehicles coming from M.J. Cuenco Avenue and passing under the flyover project.

Copies of the Citom board resolution were furnished the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and President Benigno Aquino III. Correspondent Edison delos Angeles