EDITORIAL Traffic congestion

For the past few days, the worsening traffic situation sweeping across Metro Cebu has been hogging headlines in the local papers. From Liloan town in the north to Lapu-Lapu City to Minglanilla town in the south, the traffic problem has become more serious than ever.

Local government units and concerned government agencies have been racing against time trying to find a solution to the problem, which has already been pestering the metro for years. Unfortunately, it seems they have yet to score the right solution.

So far, there are some road development projects that are currently being undertaken around the metro as the Duterte administration is also gearing up for some big-tickets infrastructure projects aimed at finally solving the traffic problem in Cebu.

One of these road projects currently being undertaken is the P800-million underpass along Natalio Bacalso Avenue in Cebu City that is set to be finished in 18 months. It is expected to ease congestion in Mambaling and neighboring areas.

In Mandaue City, a portion of Ouano Avenue has been closed to traffic for weeks for repair. The closure has affected nearby roads where congestion is heavy, especially during rush hour, adding to the city’s notoriety as one of the areas in the metro with worsening traffic situation.

There are other projects that the government is now preparing in Cebu. The bridge linking Cordova town and Cebu City is expected to start in the middle of this year. There is also an underpass project that will soon be implemented along United Nation Avenue in Mandaue.

Part of the national government’s infrastructure move in Cebu is the construction of coastal roads in the north and south to divert motorists. Another proposal is to construct a light rail transit around the metro to give commuters the alternative system.

We are hopeful that, once finished, all these projects will alleviate the traffic problem in the metro. In the meantime, Cebuanos are bound to currently suffer the heavy congestion.