Underpass works to start Tuesday

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 7 will start the implementation of the P683-million underpass project along N. Bacalso Ave. on Tuesday.

However, the Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) has yet to give the go-signal, so proponent may have to wait.

“We can’t give our approval for the start of work on Tuesday. Even us in CCTO wanted to hasten the implementation of the project because it is for the development of the city, but it’s not as easy as that,” said CCTO operations chief Francisco Ouano.

In an interview, Engr. Roy dela Cruz said they want to start the project implementation on Tuesday since it is already long overdue.

The project was supposed to start after the two traffic-rerouting dry runs last June.

However, the second day of the dry run did not push through because of the conditions that CCTO required DPWH 7 to do as it was noted that the state of the alternative roads caused delay in the travel time of the drivers.

Several potholes were seen on the road, which causes the drivers to slow down while traversing these areas. This, however, was already addressed by DPWH 7.

As of yesterday, dela Cruz said maintenance works on Tagunol St. was already completed while asphalting along Ganciang St. will be the next.

“We are hoping to start immediately because we don’t want to cause another delay for the project implementation. I know the DPWH 7 and the City have one goal, which is to start the project already,” dela Cruz said.

Contrary to what was earlier planned, dela Cruz said they’ve decided to start the works on the portion of N. Bacalso Ave., particularly on the Cebu City-bound lane near a supermarket.

Ouano said they can’t allow the work to start without proper coordination.

So far, they only allow DPWH 7 to work on a drainage system along the area where the phase 1 of the project near a fast food chain is.

“We haven’t discussed anything about the start of the project on the other side of the road. We have to study it first and have it endorsed to different concerned offices. What they requested is for the drainage system only,” he said.

Before the implementation of the project that will cause road closure of N. Bacalso Ave., Ouano said DPWH 7 and CCTO should work together to make sure traffic flow won’t be hampered. /

SUNSTAR FOTO / ALLAN DEFENSOR READY. The P683-million underpass project on N. Bacalso Ave. will soon start, but officials want to iron out coordination.