Flyover construction starts; Citom advice: Avoid Banilad

If you think traffic in the Banilad-Talamban area has been bad for the past many months, expect the worst starting today as construction of the controversial Banilad flyover starts.

The City Traffic Operations and Management (CITOM) is bracing for a traffic mayhem and will field 81 enforcers around the area that would be affected including the alternate routes and the nearby Mandaue City to address the problem.

While officials say that only a short stretch will only have two lanes open and the rest of the Gov. Mariano Cuenco Ave. would have four lanes open, the bottleneck is expected to result to a snarl.

Councilor Sylvan Jakosalem, a member of the CITOM board, said the two-lane scheme would be implemented from the Banilad Town Centre to the junction of Mariano Cuenco Avenue and A.S. Fortuna Street. The stretch of road outside this distance would still have four lanes open.

CITOM Executive Director Arnel Tancinco said at least three traffic enforcers would be positioned in the major intersections like those in Foodland and Paradise Village.

To further regulate traffic, Tancinco said that they will impose a “no stopping” zone for all vehicles between Paradise Village and Banilad barangay hall.

Barricades and signs will also be placed in “no left turn” areas like the Gaisano Country Mall and the Banilad Town Centre.

A big signage would be put up 200 meters approaching Foodland to warn the public of the construction and to warn them further that only one lane is passable.

Despite these preparations, Tancinco said they are still expecting traffic congestion. “So as much as possible, motorists should avoid passing by Foodland and Gov. Cuenco Avenue,” he advised.

The CITOM decided to cancel the implementation of the odd-even scheme after two dry-runs revealed that the scheme would not work.

Meanwhile, Rep. Raul del Mar yesterday welcomed the move of the Visayas Ombudsman opening a fact-finding inquiry into the alleged irregularity in the conduct of bidding for the flyover.

“I welcome any fact-finding investigation…any government project is always subject to investigation if the need warrants. If the Ombudsman deems it necessary to conduct fact-finding investigation, I welcome it,” Del Mar said.

The Cebu City North District congressman, however, clarified that he has not heard of the alleged irregularities until yesterday.

“I have not heard of the allegations until today. I don’t interfere in the bidding at all that’s why I don’t know about this,” he said.

WTG Construction and Development Corporation, which won the contract with a bid of P86.9 million, had promised to finish it in six months to shorten the inconvenience to the public, four months short of the 10-month timeframe anticipated by DPWH.

DPWH-7 regional director Josefino Rigor said there is no reason to postpone the construction because it was already postponed last year to give way to the request of the businessmen and other stakeholders that they be given time until after Christmas, New Year and Sinulog.

The city council asked for one to two months postponement until the DPWH finishes expropriating the 21 lots for the road and Mahiga Bridge expansion. The request for postponement also came after the planned odd-even scheme to solve the expected traffic problem failed.

But, Rigor said they already have a strategy to solve the traffic problem.

According to Rigor, they will immediately start the repair of diversion roads. He said the asphalt overlaying of the access roads to Banilad and Talamban will start tonight and is expected to be completed in four days.

The 390-meter flyover stretches from near the Banilad Town Centre up to the Llama Construction Building along Mariano Cuenco Avenue.

Had CITOM decided to push through with the odd-even scheme, the same would be implemented by sorting vehicles according to their license plates. Those with license plates ending in odd numbers can pass through the stretch where the construction is on odd dates while those vehicles with license plates ending in even numbers can pass on even dates.

A major stumbling block in the flyover’s construction was the drastic increase in the zonal valuation by the Bureau of Internal Revenue such that P50 million more was needed to purchase the road right of way of affected properties. The flyover project would need 4,200 square meters for the road right of way alone and the original budget of P126.5 million was not enough.

Just this week, however, the Senate and the House of Representatives approved the 2008 national budget with amendments, among which is the additional P50 million for the flyover. — (/NLQ)