Traffic along UN Avenue

Dear Editor,

The blame game for the traffic mess at the United Nations Avenue caused by the on-going concreting project of said road reminds me of the story about a carpenter tasked to repair a dilapidated chair. Unfortunately, somebody was sitting on the chair and adamantly refused to vacate it. The carpenter apologized and said, “Sorry for the inconvenience but I am going to repair the chair.” “Okay, but do it one leg at a time,” the occupant replied. The repair of the chair, which could have been quick and easy became long and difficult because of the conditions imposed. And often times the occupant would ask, “Are you done yet?”

In a sense, the two local government units of Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue cities refused to vacate the “chair.” They would not allow the contractor to work on the lanes simultaneously. “One lane at a time,” they said.

So we have this problem.

What would the contractor do after completing the one lane? Suspend the project and wait for the one lane to cure? But there is a November 30, 2012 event! The project has to be completed at the latest, second week of November for the concrete to be cured.

There was, allegedly, a plan of the contractor to make the U.N. Avenue from Plaridel St. up to the Fernan Bridge, a one-way, two lane ingress only to Lapu-Lapu City since there is a left-turning flyover to the airport and a right turn ramp to the city proper. The old bridge shall be a one-way, two lane egress only to Mandaue City. In this way, the contractor can work on the two lanes simultaneously. But the plan was, allegedly, shot down by the traffic authorities of Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue cities. “It will not work, we have done it before,” they said. They would not vacate the “chair.”

Well, that is water under the two bridges.

I just hope that the project can be completed on time.

Very truly yours,

Publeo O. Bueno