Underpass to usher new traffic plan

CEBU, Philippines — Before the P638-million underpass project along N. Bacalso Avenue will be available to general traffic, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-7 will ask the Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) to implement possibly a new traffic scheme in the south district.

DPWH-7 Project Engineer Roy Dela Cruz told The FREEMAN that they could not just open the underpass without a go signal from the traffic authority.

Once the project will be completed this June, a conference meeting will be held among DPWH-7, CCTO and other concerned offices.

"By June, the CCTO and local officials will meet on how to go about sa opening with the project, mag-ceremonial opening ba. Before that, i-refer namo to CCTO for the traffic scheme kay naa man ta'y gire-route nga buses," Dela Cruz said yesterday.

Since the construction of the underpass started in August 2017, all buses, mini buses and delivery trucks were advised to access the Cebu South Coastal Road (CSCR).

Dela Cruz said it will be the decision of CCTO whether or not to allow buses, mini buses and delivery trucks pass through the main thoroughfares in the south district again.

On June, aside from the underpass, the access road for vehicles includes the northbound and southbound side roads of the facility.

At present, only the public utility jeepneys and private vehicles are allowed to access the side roads.

Diversion routes are also accessible for them that include Ganciang St., Caimito St., F. Llamas St., and others.

At present, WT Construction Inc., the contractor of the project, has accomplished about 92 percent of the underpass project.

Dela Cruz said WTCI is almost done with all the involved works of the northbound lane of the underpass.

"Nakahuman nata og boring concrete didto sa north side, mahuman ta ani by Sunday or Monday," he said.

With this, all works of the contractor will be concentrated to the south portion by May.

After the southbound lane, they will proceed with the works on with pavement, which is the last part of the construction.

"Mana gyud, makapaagi nata sa pavement. Pero second week of June pata maka-open kay naa mana'y curing period," Dela Cruz said.

Earlier, the contractor committed to complete all the works next month but they asked for a curing period, a time to allow the concrete to achieve the desired properties for its intended use.

Dela Cruz asked the public to extend their patience since they can heave a sigh of relief soon. — GAN (FREEMAN)