Mambaling underpass to be opened for two days for motorists heading south

The Mambaling Underpass project is almost done in this May 2019 photo. The project is expected to be completed in June 2019. | Photo courtesy of DPWH-7 Project Engineer Roy dela Cruz

CEBU CITY, Philippines — Motorists, specifically private vehicles and motorcycles, can have an alternative route to go to their hometown in southern Cebu to vote this coming May 13.

This developed after Engineer Roy dela Cruz, Department of Public Works and Highways in Central Visayas (DPWH-7) project engineer of the multi-million underpass project along Natalio Bacalso Avenue in Barangay Mambaling, Cebu City, announced on Thursday, May 9, that the north and south lanes of the underpass tunnel would be opened for two days to vehicles, specifically, private vehicles and motorcycles.

Dela Cruz said that this would allow those, who would go home to southern Cebu towns and cities to participate in the May 13, 2019 election, an alternative route to the south.

The north and south lanes of the the underpass tunnel will be opened from 12 a.m on Saturday, (May 11) until 12 a.m on Monday, (May 13). 

According to the traffic advisory that Dela Cruz sent to CDN Digital, they would temporarily open the two underpass tunnel lanes as they anticipate the number of motorists heading to the south to increase on the day leading to the election.

“Temporary opening ra ni, for two days ra, kay tiwason pa ang South Side. Wala pa na-concrete ang road,” Dela Cruz said.

Read more: DPWH promises May completion of Mambaling underpass project

Francisco Ouano, Cebu City Transportation Office chief, said that only motorcycles and private vehicles would be allowed to pass through both sides of the tunnel.

“Dili pa gyud fully completed ang underpass. So dili lang sa nato paagian og mga dagkong trucks and buses. This is just for the elections kay daghan kaayong tawo ana. This will also serve as dry run on that day,” Ouano said. 

(The underpass had not yet been fully completed yet, so we would not allow trucks and buses to pass in the tunnel. This is just for the election because of the volume of people and vehicles heading to the south. This will also serve as a dry run of the tunnel.)

The DPWH and WT Construction, the contractor of the project, are working on the project’s final phase, which involve underground works to connect the southern and northern parts of the underpass tunnel.  

Also, ongoing works include the shock-proofing of the tunnel walls and the establishment of a drainage system. 

This is the final phase of the six-phase underpass project that started in August 2017.

They hope to complete the project before the start of classes in June, next month. /dbs