COASTAL ROAD NOW NO-LEFT

Different u-turn slots identified for vehicles using the Cebu South Coastal Road Meanwhile, Mega Cebu group launches road safety awareness campaign

Road rules change in South Coastal Road and Gorordo: All vehicles from Mambaling Access Road now have to use the u-turn slot under the bridge at the boundary of Cebu and Talisay Cities On the same day, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña tells transportation office to allow vehicles to turn left from Gorordo Ave. to Sudlon road, a rule adopted during the previous administration

Starting yesterday, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña imposed a “no left turn policy” on the Cebu South Coastal Road, particularly from Mambaling Access Road in the South Road Properties (SRP).

All vehicles from Mambaling Access Road will have to use the u-turn slot under the bridge at the boundary of the cities of Cebu and Talisay, before going to the city proper.

Southbound vehicles, on the other hand, will use the u-turn slot near the viaduct. Metal railings were installed in the center of the Cebu South Coastal Road (CSCR) to prevent drivers from accessing the old u-turn slots.

Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) Operations Chief Francisco Ouano said they will observe the flow of traffic in the CSCR following the adjustment. He pointed out that drivers making a left turn clogged up traffic because they had to slow down or stop, and that the City had to find a way for the traffic to be more free-flowing.

Some motorists complained about the new policy, saying it’s impractical or has stretched their travel time.

But Osmeña said the traffic adjustment was made due in response to several accidents in the area.

“We closed all the islands, and we have to use the u-turn slots to save lives because there are too many accidents. Besides, that’s the purpose of the u-turn slots and it would speed up traffic because there’s no more crossing vehicles,” he said.

Ouano pointed out that keeping motorists safe is more important than helping drivers reach their destinations faster.

Road rules campaign

“There are accidents in the area because some of the drivers deliberately crossed to the other side of CSCR from the Mambaling Access Road, not keeping in mind that there are also other vehicles coming from the south,” he said.

As this developed, Osmeña also directed the CCTO to allow vehicles to make a left turn on a portion of Gorordo Ave., particularly at the corner leading to Sudlon.

During the previous administration, left turns were prohibited at that corner because of congestion.

Meanwhile, a group that champions metro-wide planning and coordinated projects cooked up a campaign to remind the public about responsible road etiquette.

The “Tuman Cebu, Pwede Kaayo” program aims to educate motorists and commuters alike on how to be responsible road users.

Aside from the Mega Cebu Development and Coordinating Board ( MCDCB), also involved in the campaign are the Land Transportation Office and Cebu Road Heroes, a non-government group.

Peter Go, president of Cebu Road Heroes, said that the program aims to remind all stakeholders of their duty to follow the rules.

“If dili ta motuman ani, if dili ni nato paminawon (If we disobey, if we fail to listen), of course, everything will fail,” Go told reporters.

Go said that aside from sigs, the campaign will also use social media as a tool to educate more people. Local officials and various stakeholders witnessed the launching of the campaign yesterday.

Cebu Rep. Gerald Anthony “Samsam” Gullas ( Cebu Province, first district) said at the launch that he believes the multi-sectoral campaign organized by MCDCB will remind the public that responsibility for road safety doesn’t rest with local officials alone.

All sectors must work together, he said, to ensure that traffic remains trouble-free.