Body to study BanTal road traffic

THE Cebu City Traffic Operations Management (Citom) will try to identify the congestion points along the Banilad-Talamban road and recommend possible solutions to these traffic problems.

Lawyer Rafael Yap, Citom head, said once the traffic problems would be addressed, only then would the office recommend if there would be  a need to already lift the moratorium on development projects in

the area.

Yap said the study, which would include a count of vehicles using the north-bound road may already be finished by the end of the month.

“Wala ni nato na lihok pag summer (where there were less vehicles) because we want data that are accurate,” he said.

The study will focus on the congestion points along Gov. Cuenco Avenue, which is also known as the BanTal road, and solutions to traffic, which may include widening of the avenue and clearing of obstructions.

He, however said that having a mass transport system like the Bus Rapid Transit from Bulacao in the south to Talamban in the north would be the best solution to Bantal’s traffic problems.

“Nindot nga naa tay public transport to discourage private vehicles,” said Yap.

For now, he said that Citom is looking at some “stop gap” solutions, which include the possibility of eradicating U-turn slots along the north road and preventing the entry of vehicles from one lane to the other. /Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac