New traffic flow set for S. Osmeña rehab

CEBU, Philippines - Starting Mar. 11 and for at least five months, a new traffic scheme will be observed at a portion of Sergio Osmeña Boulevard while the Department of Public Works and Highways will implement a major road repair on this thoroughfare. 

The P289 million rehabilitation of S. Osmeña port corridor covers a total length of 2.503 kilometers which include the removal of the existing asphalt pavement and its replacement with Portland cement concrete pavement.

The said amount is allocated for the concreting of the entire S. Osmeña stretch from the bridge (near Cebu International Port) that connects the Cebu City to Mandaue City until Palma Street near subway. However, DPWH will be doing it phase by phase to minimize inconvenience.

On Tuesday, the road section from Juan Luna Avenue (Pier 5) down to General Maxilom Avenue (Pier 4) will be closed “to maximize work without interruption and to complete the rehabilitation project as scheduled.”

Yesterday, Cebu City Traffic Operations Management executive director lawyer Rafael Yap said all vehicles from north and south plying along S. Osmeña will utilize the interlink of the Cebu Port Authority service road.

Yap said the Gen. Maxilom opening shall serve as entry point to interlink and the J. Luna opening shall serve as exit point of traffic.  The interlink will experience general entry of all traffic vehicles.

“We are trying to facilitate the traffic para dili kaayo maka-experience og grabeng inconvenience sa atong motorists and commuters during this period,” Yap said.

“The project is meant to do good for the city. Daghang complaints about potholes along S. Osmeña and finally, DWPH is doing something about it,” Yap added.

After five months, work on the other sections of S. Osmeña will follow until November as directed by Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama.

Furthermore, Yap said they are anticipating heavy traffic starting Mar. 17 as the Regional Trial Court will be in full operation in Qimonda building near Pier 5 at the North Reclamation Area.

“We are expecting that the opening of the Qimonda will have a great impact on traffic,” Yap said.

Yap explained that based on their random traffic survey on city’s road condition, a portion of S. Osmeña from Mango Avenue to J. Luna has the heaviest traffic recorded with around 2,000 vehicles passing every hour.

“We are doing the best that we can in order to minimize the impact but 2,000 vehicles is quite a challenge,” he pointed out.

Yap said there is no need to implement new routes for this because all vehicular traffic will pass through interlink along Qimonda.

“As far as traffic rerouting for Qimonda is concerned, there is no need for especial rerouting kay tanan sakyanan mo-agi naman sa interlink,” he said. — (FREEMAN)