Ahead of schedule

The underpass in Mambaling, Cebu City is expected to be operational three months from now. Department of Public Works and Highways-7 project engineer Roy dela Cruz disclosed that the project is now 97 percent complete.

As the project opens to north- and southbound vehicles in December, dela Cruz said it will be completely finished not later than March. “Inig December, naa gihapo’y ongoing construction sa main underpass structure, bali ang middle lanes,” he added.

It’s good that the project is now on its way to finishing ahead of schedule. And that is a welcome development for those in the south who for months have had to undergo the harrowing routine of experiencing heavy traffic congestion due to the project’s construction.

With this development, the public should thank all those behind the underpass project, public and private entities, for pouring all their resources into the effort for its immediate completion.

We have yet to see if the underpass, once operational, will live up to public expectations in its mission to solve the traffic problem along that stretch of Natalio Bacalso Avenue. But at least there’s something being done to address the situation.

What is more truly important is the fact that the project is being established for the purpose of easing the worsening traffic problem in the area. Such idea would not have been realized without the study that vouched for its feasibility.

We ought to give the underpass project a chance. Let us leave it to function well as designed by its implementors. But if ever, God forbid, it miserably fails to serve its purpose, we all already know who to blame.

Of course, we need the project to succeed because its stakeholders want it duplicated in other areas around the city with the same problem. That is why the Mambaling underpass’ implementation is crucial in the effort to address the traffic problem around the city and Metro Cebu in general.