U-Turn slot in front of Il Corso via Google Maps
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Motorists and some concerned citizens have been airing their concerns about the U-turn slot near Il Corso Lifemalls at the Cebu South Coastal Road of the South Road Properties (SRP).
Some wondered why the city’s traffic office put a U-turn slot there, when another one–a much safer one, some say–is just a several meter ahead (600 meters based on Google maps).
A screenshot from Google Maps shows the original u-turn slot at the Cebu South Coastal Road that is just several meters ahead of the Il Corso u-turn slot.
CCTO chief’s reaction
CDN Digital asked Cebu City Transportation Office Head Raquel Arce about the matter and she said it was in accordance with Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama’s order.
“I cannot say [why]. It’s (the) mayor’s order,” Raquel told CDN Digital.
READ: Close intersections, U-turn slots at SRP Cebu City Council asks Mayor Rama
Rama on why area has U-turn slot
To address this, CDN reached out to Rama about this matter, and he said, opening the U-turn slot in front of Il Corso was a way to save gasoline for the benefit of the motorists.
“Looking at the distance and with the gasoline we’ve been paying, how much is the gasoline? So that’s the reason why. If only the gasoline is not expensive, doing a U-turn almost towards Talisay [would be fine],” Rama said.
READ: Fuel prices in Cebu City: Gasoline up by 55 centavos per liter
Motorists’ savings
The mayor said that it would have an impact on the motorist’s savings, should they consume more fuel for passing in the original U-turn slot, which is under the bridge that connects Cebu City and Talisay City.
Google maps estimated distance between the u-turn slot in front Il Corso and the u-turn slot near the boundary of Talisay City and Cebu City.
“And the whole area is not anymore what it used to be. Some insist nga adto mo U-turn. Sayon kaayo estoryahon. Daghan man kaha silag kwarta? But they’re talking about pagkalayo sa U-turn,” Rama said.
(And the whole area is not anymore what it used to be. Some insist to take the U-turn there. That’s easy for them to say. They must have a lot of money? But they are talking about how far the distance to take a u-turn.)
During a phone interview, Rama reiterated his concern on fuel consumption.
Shorten motorists’ travel time
“Ang ila hunahuna gud, dili basta-basta ang gasolina ba. Ang sakyanan mahal kaayo kan-on ang gasolina,” the mayor said.
(What they are really thinking, that (price of) gasolina is really not a thing to laugh about. The expensive gasoline would easily be consumed by the vehicle.)
Rama also said that the U-turn slot had been made to “shorten” the motorists’ travel time, and “not for any business opportunities.”
READ: LTO-7 exec: Drivers can now get their plastic driver’s licenses
U-turn slot and traffic lights
“That’s a U-turn for the purposes of nga if mo u-turn ka liman muabot kas’ NuStar, unya kanang lugara naa na’y mga traffic lights. That’s to be installed in due time, additional diha,” he said.
(That’s a U-turn for the purposes of if you take a U-turn there you will reach Nustar, and then that area there have traffic lights. In due time that’s to be installed, that will be additional (traffic lights there).)
“So if muabot na gani ng traffic lights sa intersection, ang chances ana you’re not cutting the movement of the car, (and) at (the) same time you are practically saving the distance,” the mayor added.
(So if the traffic lights would reach the intersection, chances are is that you’re not cutting the movement of the car, and at (the) same time, you are practically saving the distance.)
Don’t understand why some motorists would complain
Rama said that he did not understand why some drivers would complain about the slot.
“If ako’y driver, nganong mocriticize man ko ana. Maybe, I want to know if these critics mga driver ba ni or do they own a car? Or are they just mainly critics?,” Rama said.
(If I am a driver, why would I criticize that. Maybe, I want to know if these critics are drivers or do they own a car? Or are they just mainly critics?)
READ: How to get a new driver’s license
U-turn slot impedes traffic flow
Meanwhile, in an interview with CDN Digital, Kevin Ray Chua, a commuter who sometimes takes a taxi traversing to the Cebu South Coastal Road, said that the Il Corso U-turn slot impedes the traffic flow for vehicles who want to go straight.
“Vehicles are practically doing a u-turn against incoming vehicles,” he said.
Chua suggested that the Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) close the Il Corso U-turn slot and let drivers utilize the u-turn slot between the boundary of Cebu City and Talisay City for the safety of all motorists and commuters.
READ: LTO: Expired driver’s license now valid until April 2024
Main purpose of Cebu South Coastal Road
“It’s a noteworthy concern of the mayor, but it far outweighs the main purpose of the Cebu South Coastal Road, which is to promote continuous flow of traffic,” Chua said.
Meanwhile, Kevin Gesto, a driver and member of the Cebu Road Heroes, a Facebook page which aims to provide road updates in Cebu City, is also not in favor of the Il Corso U-turn slot.
“That part of the SRP road is not originally made for an open slot or an intersection where any car or vehicle can easily swerve or turn lanes to reach those establishments,” Gesto said.
READ: How Manila’s traffic steals more than minutes
Convert into intersection instead
According to Gesto, the U-turn lane is supposed to be an extra lane for highways/super highways.
“I suggest if that they insist to put up the U-Turn slot, (they) might as well convert it into an intersection (with junction box),” Gesto suggested.
CDN Digital already reached out to Lawyer Kent Francesco Jongoy, CCTO’s legal officer, for their comment on Rama’s response, however, as of press time, they hae yet to give their response.
/dbs