More than 300 households to be affected by project

AT LEAST 339 households will be affected once the construction of the Guadalupe-Lahug diversion road starts in 2021.

Majority of the residents are in favor of the development although the plan was initially met with mixed reactions, said Cebu City Councilor Jerry Guardo, chairman of the Council infrastructure committee.

In the four consultations conducted in 2019, more residents supported the project as it can help address traffic congestion in the area, he added.

The diversion road will pass four barangays, namely Guadalupe, Capitol Site, Kamputhaw, and Lahug.

The P2.4-billion road project is now up for bidding for the detailed engineering design.

Guardo said the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) aims to complete the detailed engineering design within eight months.

He added that in the detailed engineering design, the exact number of properties that will be affected and the trees that will be removed will be determined.

The 2.33-kilometer diversion road will traverse Barangays Guadalupe to Lahug, starting beside the Guadalupe Barangay Hall and ending across the Lahug Elementary School. It will have two bridges as it will pass the Guadalupe River and the Lahug River, as well as an underpass.

It will have four lanes, with two lanes each for the northbound and southbound vehicles and sidewalks on both sides. Each lane will be three meters wide.

He said there is a need to hasten the project so motorists going to and from Barangays Guadalupe and Lahug will have an alternative route.

“It is necessary (to open a new road) because the traffic along Escario Street is getting worse. Once the new road will be opened, some vehicles will just pass through the area,” Guardo said.

Some public utility jeepneys from Barangays Banawa, Labangon, Tisa or Punta Prinsesa headed for Lahug and vice versa can also use the diversion road. (JJL)