THE Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 7 has opted to avoid ceremonies when it opens the underpass in Barangay Mambaling, Cebu City to traffic at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 15, 2019.

The construction of the P700-million infrastructure started in 2017. It was seen as the solution to the traffic congestion on the intersection of N. Bacalso Ave. and F. Llamas St. The area is surrounded by fast food restaurants, supermarkets and other business establishments.

Boy Sayson, DPWH 7 construction division chief, said the underpass was inspected by their quality assurance unit and regional inspectorate team.

Personnel of DPWH 7 and the Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) have been installing traffic lights in the underpass in time for its opening.

Last Tuesday, June 11, the DPWH 7, CCTO and the underpass contractor WT Construction held a meeting for the final preparations before the opening.

CCTO head Francisco Ouano said buses and minibuses are the only vehicles that will not be allowed to use the underpass. These will be directed to the Cebu South Coastal Road at the South Road Properties while ferrying passengers to and from the Cebu South Bus Terminal to southern Cebu.

Ouano clarified that the underpass ban for buses and minibuses could be temporary.

He said the final decision would rest on incoming Cebu City mayor Edgardo Labella.

The underpass was temporarily opened to traffic during the midterm elections last May 13. (From HBL of SuperBalita Cebu, KAL)