To help aid traffic issue: Establishments should have proper structural design - CCTO

CEBU, Philippines - An official of the Cebu City Transportation Office said if commercial establishments have proper structural designs, it would help decongest the heavy traffic situation in highly-urbanized cities, like Cebu City.

Recently, the city’s traffic enforcement team formulated observations and recommendations in preparation for the opening of a newly-constructed shopping mall in Barangay Mambaling. The information was endorsed to City Hall’s Office of the Building Officials.

“You can properly address traffic with good structural design… Majority of the emphasis on preparing for Gaisano Grand Mall opening is that the structure will not cause undue impact on the vicinity,” said CCTO acting department head lawyer Rafael Yap, in a phone interview, in line with the opening of the Gaisano Grand Mall in Sitio Jai-Alai, Barangay Mambaling tomorrow.

 CCTO is preparing for the traffic condition around the mall and has provided recommendations, which it hopes OBO will adopt before the locational clearance will be granted.

According to CCTO, C. Padilla Street, which lies in front of the mall, has an existing road width of 10 meters and has two lanes for both directions. Along the road is an existing concrete sidewalk of 1.3 meters on the north-bound lane while it also has a 1.7-meter width sidewalk on the south-bound lane, where the newly-constructed building is located.

Based on its earlier study, CCTO observed that there is slow vehicular movement on the road during peak hours.

CCTO recommended that the driveway going to the parking area should be free from any obstruction so that vehicles entering the mall will not be queuing along C. Padilla Street, causing traffic congestion on the road.

CCTO has also asked the mall’s management to modify the proposed “dropped-curb” in front of the establishment, allowing only two-driveway openings of six meters for the entry and exit of vehicles going to and from the mall.

“This provision shall be observed as per City Ordinance 1656, Section 2 of Article VII that an entry and exit points or driveway may be allowed provided that the length of the lot fronting the street shall not be less than 15 meters,” the endorsement read.

Further, CCTO recommended that the “nose-in nose-out” policy should be strictly adhered to on the provisions of parking slots or driveways while “back-out parking” should be prohibited on all public roads.

Also, CCTO recommends that the existing sidewalk along C. Padilla Street should be restored to its standard height and shall be clear from any obstructing structures.

Since the initial traffic plan of the mall does not indicate the location of the delivery area for store merchandise, OBO must ask the applicant to indicate their merchandise delivery area.

“Given the limited road width and congestion levels during peak hours, delivery vehicles of the establishment or its tenants are prohibited from utilizing the public roads for parking or as waiting areas,” part of their recommendations read.

CCTO will also refer the matter to the City Planning and Development Office for compliance on the property easements, particularly along C. Padilla Street; Natalio Bacalso Avenue; and Labangon River that the applicant should comply.

It noted that at any circumstance during the operation of the mall, CCTO will impose traffic measures to regulate traffic flow if it will eventually cause traffic congestion in the area.

Yap said they will be deploying at least 10 traffic personnel tomorrow to control and man the flow of vehicles.  (FREEMAN)