Ouano Ave. rehab to start in March; rerouting set

Only light vehicles will be allowed to pass Ouano Ave. in Mandaue City during the first phase of its rehabilitation next month.

Glenn Antigua, chief for operations of the Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue (Team), said trucks and other heavy vehicles, especially those coming from Cebu City heading north, will be directed to Zuellig Ave.

He said a dry run will be held on Feb. 27 to see if this plan works.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) allocated P223.707 million for the redevelopment of Ouano Ave.

The project will have six phases spread over a year.

The first phase will start from Mahiga Creek up to corner of Mantawi Drive near a Shell gasoline station.

When the repair starts in the first week of March, Antigua said, three lanes of the road will be closed and the right-most lane will be kept open but only for light vehicles coming from Cebu City.

Based on the Team’s traffic plan, trucks will have to turn right to Zuellig Ave. by the time they crossed the Mahiga Creek, then left turn to Mantawi Drive and right to Ouano Ave.

The first phase of rehabilitation will cover 640 meters of the road.

Antigua said Ouano Ave. is 1.9km. long.

The phase one will take about three months to be completed.

According to Antigua, a stakeholders’ meeting was held last Feb. 15 to come up with a plan so businesses in the area will not be affected by the road repair.

He said there are at least 39 establishments located along Ouano Ave., which starts from Mahiga Creek up to the corner of Bai Hotel.

City Mayor Gabriel Luis Quisumbing said eco-wardens will be assigned to Zuellig Ave. to make sure that roads will be properly maintained and to call the attention of the trucks that would bring additional dust and dirt on the roads.

“We feel all of the preparations that can be made have been made. Unfortunately, any disruption will cause traffic, but it’s something that we have to deal with because we know upon completion of this project, it will have more benefits to the people of Mandaue and the entire island of Cebu,” the mayor said.