New traffic scheme in Mandaue today

CEBU, Philippines - Starting at 6 a.m. today, a new traffic scheme will be implemented in Mandaue City to serve as dry-run for the traffic rerouting during the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings in August and September.

Glenn Antigua, director of the Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue, said a one-way traffic scheme will be implemented in some of the major thoroughfares of the city starting today until the next 60 days.

Antigua said all 150 traffic personnel of the city will be deployed as early as 4 a.m. today to ensure that all intersections in affected roads will have traffic enforcer to direct the traffic.

TEAM personnel worked overtime to complete the installation of traffic signs.

“Busa akong hangyoon ang mga motorists nga mo-cooperate lang gyud aron hapsay ang atong pagpatuman kay pinaagi sa ilang kooperasyon dako atong pagtuo nga magmalampuson ni atong gipahigayon nga dry-run. Pasensya lang kun naay mga delays kay normal lang dyud ni nga basta first day of implementation naa gyuy aberya gamay,” Antigua said.

 Traffic congestions in the city usually start at 7 a.m.  until 9 a.m. and from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The heavy traffic in the past months was blamed to the ongoing road and drainage projects simultaneously implemented by the Department of Public Works and Highways.

Under the new traffic scheme, both the S.B. Cabahug and P.J. Burgos Streets will be open to one-way traffic. Only vehicles going to the Pacific Mall and beyond can use S.B. Cabahug Street starting from Jollibee Centro and the City Hall. Vehicles going to the City Hall can take P.J. Burgos Street from the Pacific Mall.

Antigua said the proposed scheme will lessen the volume of vehicles taking Plaridel Street going to the north.

At present, Plaridel Street is one of the major roads undergoing repairs. As a result only two lanes of the four-lane road are passable.

TEAM is proposing changes at the intersections of UN Avenue and M.C. Briones Street as well as the intersection under the Maguikay flyover so vehicles coming from the north going to Cebu City can move faster.

One lane will be devoted to vehicles coming from the north going to M.C. Briones Street. Instead of two lanes, vehicles coming from U.N. Avenue turning left to M.C. Briones can only use one lane.

The new scheme will also include opening the lanes below the Maguikay flyover for vehicles coming from the north going to Cebu City.

Meanwhile, motorists bound for Lapu-Lapu City may take S.B. Cabahug Street and proceed to U.N. Avenue.

According to Antigua, the dry-run will end on September 29. After the dry-run, the TEAM will submit a report to the City Council indicating whether the new traffic scheme can be made permanent. — /FPL (FREEMAN)