Dialogue sought for recla traffic

ROAD CLOSED. A family walks along Ouano Avenue in Mandaue City after getting stuck in traffic yesterday afternoon. (CDN PHOTO/TONEE DESPOJO)

Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes has asked for a dialog with counterparts in Cebu city to discuss how to ease severe traffic congestion arising from road closures for the rehabilitation of part of S. Osmena Road.

The mayor approached Cebu City Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella last night to set a a dialog with Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama.

Since March 5, container vans , private cars and public utility vehicles have been competing for road space with the closure of part of Ouano Avenue which was restricted to one-way traffic heading north.

Vehicle flow, especially of cargo vans heading south to the pier area and Cebu International Port, has been critically affected.

The loss of access will continue till the end of the month to accommodate road concreting work from Block 27 to the Mahiga Bridge by the Dept. of Public Works and Highways.

The Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue (Team) is seeking another meeting with the Cebu Traffic Operations Management (Citom) and officials of SM Cebu to discuss solutions.

Mayor Rama reiterated that “Mandaue’s traffic is Mandaue’s concern.”

“Mandaue traffic is Mandaue’s concern. I have been removing islands. I don’t know what Mandaue has been doing,” he told reporters during his news conference yesterday.

He said he see no need to change the scheme implemented by Citom last week since traffic has been all right in Cebu City’s side in the North Reclamation Area.

Team chief Edwin Ermac said the original rerouting plan agreed in a  February 27 coordination meeting with Cebu City Engineer Jose Marie Poblete, Citom, SM and his office was not followed.

It would have made Ouano Avenue open to two-way traffic instead of one-way.

He said this was “the best traffic plan to at least lessen the traffic jam in the Mandaue City side of reclamation area.

At present, Mandaue City is at the losing end, said Ermac.

Citom’s traffic plan vehicles heading to Mandaue can exit via M. Logarta Street and the seaside lane of  S. Osmeña Road. Vehicles coming from Mandaue City to Cebu City “only have one lane at M. Logarta Street,” said Ermac.

This  explains the congestion of traffic in Mandaue City that reaches Park Mall and the S&R Store along Ouano Avenue.

‘Bullying’
“They are just thinking of themselves, freeing their side from traffic…they leave it to us to make our own traffic plan when there’s no other way?” he said.

Ermac advised the public to plan their trips and leave earlier by at least two hours if they will pass through the Mandaue Reclamation Area.

Citom executive director Rafael Yap acknowledge the need for more coordination between the two cities.

“It’s unfortunate for Mandaue City for bearing the brunt of the traffic due to the road work. But it’s the reality there. It’s a necessity,” he said.

For now, Citom is advising motorists to avoid having to pass through the area.

Althernative routes from Mandaue city to Cebu City are through  MJ Cuenco Avenue and the Banilad-Talamban corrider which are both also congested during peak hours.

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