Rama: Escario center islands causing traffic

CEBU, Philippines - Removing the concrete center islands in front of the Capitol Building on Escario St. may improve the traffic situation in that area, particularly during peak hours, or so believes Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama.

Once the widening of the end portion of M. Velez St. corner Don Gil Garcia St. is completed within this year, the said roads will have six lanes and it is expected that the corners of Escario and Don Gil Garcia streets will become a bottleneck for vehicles.

The existing concrete center islands along Escario St. in front of the Capitol are about three meters wide, enough for a vehicle to pass through.

Rama said he will have Escario Ext. going to the National Bureau of Investigation office asphalted to encourage vehicles to use it as an alternate route heading downtown if Escario St. becomes congested.

The mayor suggested that once the center islands will be removed, it will be replaced with “imaginary islands” or the lines of special paint.

Traffic rules prohibit motorists from driving beyond the solid double lines placed in the middle of the road, particularly near the intersections, because the “imaginary lines” are just still similar to center-islands where overtaking along these areas and passing beyond the lines is considered reckless and punishable with a fine of P1,278.

Rafael Christopher Yap, the acting head of the City Traffic Operations Management, said they will first study the recommendation of the mayor.

Rama said he will also ask the officials of the Department of Engineering and Public Works and Department of Public Works and Highways to comment on the issue.

Escario St. always experiences heavy traffic during the peak hours of the morning and early evening.

Meanwhile, the mayor is now asking the concerned public utility companies who are still using the electric posts located in Escario St. near Gorordo Ave. to remove their lines.

That portion of Escario St. in front of Golden Peak Hotel has been widened already by the DPWH-hired contractor, but the road still cannot be used because of the electric posts in the middle of the road. –(FREEMAN)