Mandaue traffic dry run up sooner

CEBU, Philippines - The Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue (TEAM) will start implementing the 60-day dry run for the city’s new one-way traffic scheme next week.

TEAM director Glenn Antigua said the implementation of the dry run next week is upon the order of Mayor Jonas Cortes.

Instead of starting it in August, Cortes opted to have the dry run slated next week so motorists can already adjust with the new routes before the APEC Summit meetings start on August 22.

Antigua said they are now working on the road signs and are hoping them to be done by Monday so they can start implementing the dry run by Wednesday.

Under the proposed new traffic scheme, both the S.B. Cabahug Street and the P.J. Burgos Street will become one-way lanes.

The new traffic scheme also proposes that 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. Only two lanes of the four-lane road are passable.

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

Part of the scheme is that 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 that want to turn left to M.C. Briones can only use one lane.

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

Motorists bound for Lapu-Lapu City, meanwhile, may take S.B. Cabahug Street and proceed to the U.N. Avenue.

According to Dabon’s approved resolution, after the 60-day dry run, TEAM should submit to the City Council a report indicating whether the new traffic scheme can now be officially launched in the city. — Flor Z. Perolina (FREEMAN)