A new traffic scheme will be enforced soon along busy Escario Street in Cebu City in order to decongest the Capitol area, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said yesterday.
Rama said he wants a no-left turn policy for vehicles passing through Escario Street heading to the Provincial Capitol until they can turn left to Osmeña Boulevard.
“I have directed (Cebu City Traffic Operations Management chief) Raffy Yap to implement this not tomorrow, not immediately but as soon as possible,” Rama told reporters yesterday.
Other changes the mayor wants done:
– Citom should remove permanent barriers and center islands along Escario Street to create more road space and a bigger center island near the Capitol building.
– No parking will be allowed on both sides of Escario Street.
– Citom should purchase more traffic cones to guide motorists.
– An extended route for vehicles heading to Banawa and Guadalupe.
The biggest change proposed is this: No left turn from Osmeña Boulevard to M. Velez St. , Banawa and Guadalupe.
Instead, the mayor wants vehicles to turn right to Escario Street until the Capitol Parish Church where they can make a U-turn to head back to the Capitol area and onward to M. Velez Street.
“So that area will already become a loop. Sometimes, people want a shortcut. But now, a shortcut brings you to a long cut,” Rama said.
He was referring to congestion near the intersection fronting the Capitol building where vehicles from all directions converge especially during peak hours.
Rama said he noticed the congestion there when he passed by the area recently.
As proposed by the mayor, to go to Juana Osmeña St. or Baseline, a vehicle can’t directly turn left from Escario Street.
The mayor said vehicles can go through Osmeña Boulevard and turn left to J. Avila Street beside Cebu Doctors’ University Hospital, or M.P. Yap Street . or farther along on J. Llorente Street.
Long cut
Sought for comment, Yap said Citom will still discuss the plan during their board meeting board next week.
Till then, he couldn’t give a date for the changes on Escario Street will be implemented.