Site under Maguikay flyover to be closed to motorists

CEBU, Philippines - Motorists will not be allowed to use the thoroughfares under the Maguikay flyover in Mandaue City as retrofitting procedures start next week.

Starting 9 p.m. up to 5 a.m. on May 26, motorists are no longer allowed to cross under the flyover while workers of the PLD Construction will be doing repair and retrofitting works.

However, motorists can still use the flyover itself.

The project was supposed to commence last March but the project was deferred after it was found out that it added to the traffic congestion on roads leading to the northern part of Cebu.

Traffic congestion on this part of the city worsened since road rehabilitation and drainage improvement of the adjacent M.L. Quezon Street in Barangay Maguikay was also simultaneously done.

Now that repair works on M.L. Quezon are halfway done, retrofitting under the flyover will also commence, said Roger Paller, public information officer of Mandaue City government.

Paller said the Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue will not implement any rerouting scheme so as not to confuse the motorists. Instead, directional signs will be put up along A.C. Cortes Street, M.L. Quezon Street, Pacific Mall and Highway Seno to inform the public of available routes.

The Maguikay flyover retrofitting and repair has a budget of P17.6 million with a working period of 190 days.

Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue head Edwin Ermac appealed to the public to remain considerate and observe traffic signs for a smooth flow of traffic as he also assured that they will closely monitor the traffic while the projects are ongoing.

Since most of these projects will take almost a year to finish, officer-in-charge and district engineer Renault Ricardo earlier said the public is expected to experience traffic woes.

Ricardo said the projects will include the repair, rehabilitation and retrofitting of Maguikay flyover at a cost of P17.6 million, awarded to PLD Construction for a working period of 190 calendar days.

The 360-calendar day rehabilitation and improvement of drainage on Hernan Cortes Street from corner Cabancalan to S.B. Cabahug Street will cost P45.3 million and has been awarded to Square Cube Construction.

Rehabilitation and drainage improvement of A.S. Fortuna Street from Cabancalan to M. Logarta Street has been appropriated P44.5 million and awarded to by P.B. Obial Construction, also for a working period of 360 calendar days.

Rehab and drainage improvement of  Plaridel Street will cost P44.2 million and will be worked by Jegma Construction and Dev't. Corp. for 360 calendar days.

Construction, improvement and rehabilitation of drainage facilities along A.S. Fortuna Street from corner M.C. Briones Street onwards has been earmarked P44.6 million, which will be a joint venture between WTG Construction and Virlo Construction and Dev't. Corp. for 360 calendar days.

For the rehabilitation and drainage improvement of M.L. Quezon Street, a P43.7-million budget has been awarded to WTG for 360 calendar days while repair and improvement of causeway on Ouano Avenue from Cebu International Convention Center towards A. Soriano Street will cost P44.2 million to PLD Construction for 150 calendar days. — Flor Z. Perolina