Wednesday, June 06, 2007 Coding for traffic still not necessary By Carlo P. Mallo
DESPITE the heavy traffic that Davao City suffers during rush hour, the Traffic Management Center (TMC) believes that resorting to color and plate number coding schemes is still not necessary within the next several years.
TMC chief Celso Gempesaw asserted that they are far from considering such options.
"So much can still be done with the traffic situation in the city," Gempesaw said.
He admits that traffic situation here cannot help but worsen since it is the financial and commercial hub of the region.
More than 35 percent of the vehicles registered in the region ply city streets, he said. But he added that there's still enough space to move around in.
Nonetheless, despite the assurance of the TMC chief, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-Southern Mindanao continue to upgrade the road network in the city.
DPWH Regional Director Dimas Soguilon recently said that aside from the reconstruction of the Governor Generoso Bridge I, they are also eyeing to finish a flyover project, which is yet to be started, in Matina crossing.
Soguilon said they are already in the final stages in the demolition of the remnants of the old Governor Generoso Bridge I.
A 60-meter solid steel bridge is set to be built and finished before the Christmas season arrives.
Soguilon also revealed that the final design of the new bridge has already been approved in Manila.
He said the reason that the bridge contractors are all from Manila is because no local contractor could commit to finish the construction before Christmas season this year.
"It's not that they (local contractors) are not capable, no one among them could finish the project before Christmas," Soguilon said.
The other project being eyed by DPWH, the flyover along McArthur Highway at the Matina Crossing, is intended to alleviate the congestion of traffic in the area as vehicles that headed north and south will not have to wait it out for vehicles turning towards Matina Aplaya and Matina Pangi.
The flyover project of the DPWH is set to be passable by January 1, 2008.
To further alleviate the traffic condition in the city, the DPWH has also been expanding the two-lane Diversion Road into a four-lane road.
Soguilon said this is necessary as more flights are set at the Davao International Airport, and more people will ply the route.
The DPWH official said their projects in the city are intended to help in the development and growth of the city, stressing that this does not have any political motivation behind it.
