Turning the CSCR into another traffic hotspot?

On August 11, 2025, the Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) posted on its Facebook page a supposed traffic management plan for the Cebu South Coastal Road (CSCR). The plan opens an “alternative access route” to a luxury commercial complex at the South Road Properties (SRP) by allowing southbound vehicles to turn left toward the complex entrance. The accompanying pubmat, however, as of my latest check on the page, shows that the plan is “on hold until further notice.”

Later that day, I saw a post by Engr. Nigel Paul Villarete that appeared linked to the earlier CCTO announcement. Since it was viewable only to his friends, I cannot quote it here. Still, the post reiterated his long-standing concern over the economic losses and wasted time caused by veering away from the road’s original design as an expressway.

I follow the social media posts of Engr. Villarete, especially on transportation, as he is an acknowledged expert with vast experience in the field. I also miss his column here.

On August 13, 2025, Engr. Villarete wrote in a public post: “The Vestil-CSCR intersection WAS NOT designed to have left-turns. They decided otherwise, causing all the traffic congestion there.” In the comments, he lamented that what was meant to be an expressway now had an intersection with traffic lights, leading to lost economic opportunities.

I share Engr. Villarete’s concern. An expressway is meant to keep vehicles moving at a steady speed, free from interruptions. Introducing a left turn along the CSCR, whether at the intersection or within its stretch, runs counter to that very purpose.

The road design actually already provides the solution for accessing the SRP’s commercial areas --the U-turn slot at the underpass further ahead. It was built precisely to handle traffic bound for the establishments along the coastal highway, without disrupting the steady flow of southbound vehicles.

Some business establishments may think that a left turn across near their entrance best serves their interests, but they are mistaken. Immediate access does not necessarily mean convenient access. In reality, it eventually chokes the very road network that brings customers to them in the first place. By contrast, a U-turn slot farther ahead may seem like a longer way around, but it keeps vehicles moving steadily.

An interesting question to raise is whether our transportation planners are correct in assuming that left-turn access in the area serves the interests of both businesses and commuters. It may be that what has not been fully weighed are the unintended effects such as slower traffic brought about by stoplights and turning lanes.

In response, I would suggest that the issue may lie in the failure to fully appreciate the U-turn slot design itself. From a design perspective, and drawing on my own study of space and service flow design in graduate school, there is room to consider an alternative view. Commuters are often discouraged from using the U-turn slot at the underpass because, from their standpoint, it feels too far beyond their intended destination; by the time they reach it, they have already passed the lane leading directly to where they wish to go.

At night, the area also looks dark and uninviting. These visual and environmental cues send a signal that taking the U-turn is inconvenient, even unsafe, and create the perception that it is not the best or most practical option.

To address this, several design interventions can be made. What I would suggest is installing clear and advance signage to guide motorists toward the U-turn slot well before they reach it. Such signage would reassure them that it is the correct and intended access point. I think, in urban design or traffic engineering, this aligns with the principle of “wayfinding through anticipatory cues.”

Lighting and visibility at night are also crucial. Currently, the U-turn area is somewhat dark and neglected, with poor maintenance and no reassuring signs, giving motorists the impression that it is unsafe. Well-lit lanes and a brighter underpass would make the U-turn slot feel safer and more welcoming. Even small details can make a big difference: reflective markers, plastic reflectorized bollards, or a bit of landscaping can guide motorists visually and subtly encourage them to take the U-turn as intended.

Perhaps we should try these measures first before turning the CSCR into yet another of the city’s traffic hotspots, which will ultimately be bad for the business establishments there.