City eyes roads solely for cargo trucks

CEBU, Philippines – To manage traffic congestion, Mandaue City is eyeing to identify roads that will be intended only for cargo and delivery trucks.

Archt. Florentino Nimor, head of the Mandaue City Planning and Development Office, said once the plan is fully implemented, cargo and delivery trucks alone will be allowed to pass on these identified roads anytime of the day.

Presently, big cargo trucks are free to pass by anywhere in the city which causes more traffic congestion.

Nimor said among the routes being considered for this purpose are Ouano Avenue at the North Reclamation Area, going to Plaridel Street then to Cansaga Bay Bridge going north. Cargo trucks coming from Lapu-Lapu City shall pass by the Marcelo Fernan Bridge down to the UN Avenue.

"Naa mi traffic count gyud, beyond Plaridel, luag na kayo na siya," Nimor said.

He said if all cargo trucks will pass by the said roads, this will help minimize traffic congestions in the city's national highways.

Aside from the plan, Nimor also said he also intends to meet with officials of Cebu City Traffic Operations Management to discuss the plan for a possible synchronization of the city's truck bans.

Nimor added the meeting will also likely tackle the plan to put up a cargo transport corridor between the two cities.

"Importante gyud na siya kay right now, without that corridor, kanang di magtakdo ang truck ban time. Problema sa ila kung mag-una mi og truck ban, ang mga sakyanan mo-towing didto sa ila. Kinahanglan nga ma-synchronize pud ang truck ban aron malikayan ang traffic," Nimor said.

At present, truck ban in Mandaue City starts at 6 a.m. up to 8 a.m. in the morning and from 5 p.m. up to 8 p.m. later in the day.

Nimor said he will also meet with the head of the City Planning and Development Office of Lapu-Lapu City.

He did not, however, specify when the meetings will take place.