OFFICIALS of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 7 have two weeks to come up with a solution to the traffic congestion in three intersections on the Cebu South Coastal Road in Talisay City and in the town of Minglanilla in the south and in Consolacion in the north.
Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia does not like the DPWH 7 officials’ initial proposal to put up roundabouts, or U-turn slots, in these known bottlenecks.
During the first Cebu Traffic Management Board (CTMB) meeting on Thursday, Nov. 21, 2019, DPWH 7 officials were told to address three points if they push through with the U-turn slots.
Lack of personnel
First, they must lower the speed limit. Second, they must not allow any vehicle or pedestrian to cross national roads. Third, vehicles will not be allowed to stop or park 50 meters from the U-turn slots.
The Highway Patrol Group (HPG) 7 was tasked to apprehend violators with the help of members of the Cebu Provincial Police Office.
P/Capt. Michael Gingoyon, HPG provincial chief, said they’ve asked for additional personnel since the HPG 7 only has 39 men and only eight of them are assigned in Cebu.
“As of now, we’ve requested for a force multiplier, considering only a few HPG personnel are covering Central Visayas, particularly in Cebu. If it’s doable, we would like 30 or 40 more personnel,” Gingoyon said in Cebuano.
DPWH 7 Director Edgar Tabacon, for his part, said they will check the areas of concern in Talisay, Minglanilla and Consolacion where they plan to put up U-turn slots, or roundabouts, and make sure the budget for their construction won’t burden the Capitol.
“For now, what the governor wants is an immediate solution to traffic. These are the congested areas, the choke points, that do not need a big budget. The solution must be doable in a short period of time,” Tabacon said.
The DPWH 7 will find out if it can implement the U-turn project on Dec. 12 when it will appear again before the CTMB. ANV / PJB