THE side roads of a depressed portion of N. Bacalso Ave., Cebu City are now open to vehicular traffic, 15 months after the underpass project in the area started.

Francisco Ouano, City Transportation Office operations chief, said the opening was moved a day earlier since the weather has improved.

The initial plan was to open the side roads of the underpass project on Saturday, Nov. 24. But because of the rains brought by tropical depression Samuel, the Department of Public Works and Highways 7 decided to move the opening date to Monday, Nov. 26.

The side roads were finally opened on Sunday morning, Nov. 25.

Completion target

Although bottleneck traffic was observed on Sunday in the roads surrounding the underpass project, especially in corner F. Llamas St., Ouano said this is still considered normal since motorists are still adjusting to the changes.

“We ask our motorists and commuters to continue being patient since there will still be adjustments to be made,” he said.

Trucks and buses, though, are still banned from taking the main thoroughfare and will still have to ply the Cebu South Coastal Road in the meantime, while private vehicles are advised to take alternative routes to avoid traffic congestion.

The underpass project, which started in August 2017, is now 81 percent complete. The target completion date is on May 28, 2019.

At present, the contractor is working on phases 5 and 6, which will cover the excavation, drainage lines, boring and concreting of the underpass’ lanes on both sides.