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Monday, June 26, 2006
RDC committee agrees with residents on flyover site
By Charmaine Y. Rodriguez
Of Sun.Star Cebu
THERE is an “urgent” need for a flyover at the intersection of Gov. Cuenco Ave. and A.S. Fortuna St. in Barangay Banilad, Cebu City, a committee at the Regional Development Council (RDC) said.
In endorsing the proposed construction, the RDC 7 infrastructure development committee (IDC) acknowledged there should be a flyover in the area near the Banilad Town Center, instead of constructing one at the junction of Juan Luna Ave., Cardinal Rosales and F. Cabahug Sts. in Barangay Mabolo, Cebu City.
“First things first,” IDC chairman Manny Rabacal said of the proposed infrastructure, which also met opposition from residents and business owners in Mabolo.
Busier in Banilad
The IDC, according to the brief from the RDC 7 secretariat, believes that during the last two years, vehicular traffic in Banilad has become heavier compared to that of Juan Luna Ave., due to the increase in the number of schools and commercial establishments in the area.
The IDC passed a resolution asking the RDC 7 full council, which is scheduled to meet in Bohol this Friday, to request the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to “realign the construction” of the proposed P86-million flyover in Mabolo to the intersection in Banilad.
“Considering that government funds for infrastructure projects are becoming scarcer, the body contended that flyovers should be built first in areas where they are most needed. Between Juan Luna Ave. and Banilad, the construction of a flyover in the latter is more imperative,” the committee said.
DPWH 7 Director Roberto Lala, however, said the realignment of funds needs the recommendation of Rep. Raul del Mar (Cebu City, north district) and the approval of the Department of Budget and Management.
“Everything is possible if there are no hitches,” he said.
However, a feasibility study on the proposed flyover still needs to be done. Lala said DPWH will have to check the road-right-of-way, areas and utilities affected.
A traffic count will also be conducted to determine if the area is a bottleneck and if the traffic problem is expected to worsen.
They also need to check if there is a continuous increase in vehicle registration.
Earlier, del Mar said that coming up with funds for the proposed Banilad flyover will take a few years. He also said the traffic problem in the area did not crop up three years ago.
However, residents of Maria Luisa Estate Park and the Sto. Niño Village Homeowners’ Association Inc. in Barangay Banilad and the Silver Hills Homeowners’ Associations in Barangay Talamban asked del Mar for the flyover in Banilad.
They said the build-up of traffic in the area due to the volume of vehicles at most hours of the day on weekdays has “become increasingly critical.”
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (June 26, 2006 issue)
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