Traffic chief pushes for one month test

Lapu-Lapu City traffic enforcers (foreground) at the foot of the Mandaue-Mactan Bridge help guide motorists through the one-day dry run of the new traffic scheme aimed at easing heavy traffic in the area. (CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)

With his positive assessment of yesterday’s one-day dry run of the new traffic scheme in Lapu-Lapu City, the Lapu-Lapu City Traffic Management System chief plans to propose a month-long dry run of the new scheme.

Frank Brazil, CTMS head, said he would recommend to the CTMS board, which would assess and decide if the new traffic scheme aimed at easing heavy traffic in both bridges, would be further implemented.

He said he would recommend that the new traffic scheme be tested for a month, and after that it will be evaluated to see if it could be implemented permanently.

Brazil said during the first hour of the implementation of the traffic scheme yesterday, a few motorists were confused, but they were able to guide them with the measures put in place.

“Naa man tay daghang tawo nga gipakatap aron mo-guide sa mga motorists. So far nakatabang pud ni ug naa pud tay mga signages (We deployed several personnel in the affected areas to guide our motorists. So far, it has been a great help, and we also have signages),” he said

Brazil said unlike the past days, vehicles in both bridges were moving smoothly, and there were no heavy congestion during yesterday’s dry run.

“Daghan gihapon ang sakyanan nangagi, but not like before nga mo-count og dili lang minutes but hours before maka-move ang sakyanan. Karon lahi ra kaayo, but we will still be observing the movement of the vehicles,” he said. (Several vehicles still passed by the bridge, but unlike before when it would take hours to get through. It was really different yesterday.)

Brazil said they would evaluate the results of the dry run and would send a report to the CTMS Board, which would decide if they would conduct the month-long dry run of the new traffic scheme.

On the Mandaue City side, Glenn Antigua, Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue (TEAM) operations chief, said no traffic congestion was felt during the implementation of yesterday’s Lapu-Lapu traffic scheme.

Antigua said that TEAM personnel, who observed the traffic coming from Lapu-Lapu City along the M.L. Quezon National Highway, noted no queuing of vehicles along that area.

He, however, said that he couldn’t give a clear assessment if the new scheme was effective because it was done on a Saturday, when some companies have no work.

But he did admit an improvement of the traffic flow on the Lapu-Lapu side.