N. Bacalso Ave. traffic to ease
Both sides of underpass project along Natalio Bacalso Avenue in Barangay Mambaling, Cebu City will be opened to commuters starting November 24.
Department of Public Works and Highways 7 project engineer Roy Dela Cruz said the opening of the side roads is expected to alleviate the horrendous traffic experienced in the city’s South District with the construction of an underpass at the intersection of N. Bacalso Avenue and F. Llamas Street.
“Ang duha na atong i-open inig November 24. Yes, magexpect ta mogaan (traffic), naa gihapo’y traffic but dili na grabe pareha before,” he said.
He said they are concreting the remaining 50 meters of northbound side roads. At present, only the southbound side road is available to public utility jeepneys (PUJs), motorcycles, and private vehicles.
Even after the side roads are opened, all vehicles can still access the smaller access roads to ease traffic at the main thoroughfares.
Still part of the underpass project, DPWH will also undertake road widening starting this month. The road widening will cost the national government P18 million.
Dela Cruz said the underpass project is now 81 percent complete following the implementation of Phase IV, which covered works near the shopping center along the northbound lane of N. Bacalso Avenue.
The contractor is now working on Phases V and VI at the center portion of the underpass project, which involves excavation and road concreting of main roads, among others.
Dela Cruz is hopeful that the project will be finished on the projected date on May 28, 2019.
“Pag November 5 nahuman ang phase IV, so naa nata sa center, phase V and VI. Hopefully, on target ta sa May 28, 2019 nga completion date or earlier,” he said
ROAD PROJECTS
The Cebu City Department of Engineering and Public Works has appropriated P100 million for the asphalting of roads here, the biggest bulk of its proposed P235 million budget for 2019.
The budget for asphalting for 2019 is higher by P40 million compared to its budget for asphalting for 2018.
City Engineer Kenneth Carmelita Enriquez said the asphalting of roads is in response to the request of barangays.
During the budget hearing yesterday, Councilor Jerry Guardo said there should be close coordination between DEPW and the Department of Public Works and Highways-7 over road works so that money will not be wasted.
“There must be a proper coordination with the DPWH and the department of engineering kay naka-observe ko, naa ta'y asphalting unya naa sad diay road concreting ang DPWH. It's just a waste of money. And para maasphalt nato ang interior portion nga wala naapil sa DPWH,” Guardo pointed out.
When Councilor Margarita Osmeña asked why the city prefers asphalting over concreting, Enriquez said both are good.
“They have advantages and disadvantages. We recommend asphalting on those areas where drainage system is very good. Without the drainage system very vulnerable ang asphalt,” Enriquez said.
OTHER ITEMS
The other appropriations in the DEPW budget, include, among others P3.6 million for the maintenance of culverts and foot paths, P2.8 million for fuel and oil for the batching plant, and P11.6 million for maintenance of drainage and flood control program.
Enriquez explained that the proposed P11.6 million, a huge leap from this year's P3.5 million budget, is intended for the salaries of additional 108 job order employees that will be hired for the program.
“This is mostly for the additional 108 job order employees to do the declogging and dredging works,” she said.
At present, DEPW only has 32 job order workers.
Enriquez added that the department is also working on a detailed analysis of the “real situation” as far as drainage is concerned. Data gathering will start next year.
She said they will coordinate with DPWH, considering that the agency has conducted a study two months ago.
“Next year, we need to do the detailed analysis because if we need to ask the money and there is no detailed analysis, the money will be reverted back,” Enriquez said.