A NEW traffic light system is set to be installed at the Cebu South Coastal Road (CSCR) El Pardo T-Junction, originally designed as an expressway.
This, after the successful negotiation in 2022 between Rico Rey Francis Holganza, Traffic Management Board chairman, and Filinvest Group, owner of several commercial and residential developments at the South Road Properties (SRP).
With an initial budget of P7 million, the traffic light system will be put up in the area that was closed down last May 26, 2023 due to a vehicular accident, but was reopened upon the order of Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama.
Holganza said he had discussed with Filinvest group his plan of making the CSCR a discipline zone where traffic rules will be strictly implemented.
“I would prefer that Filinvest do this as their CSR (corporate social responsibility) project for the city,” added Holganza.
Holganza’s only request from the Filinvest group was that they put a highly adaptive traffic light system in the area.
Cebu City Transportation head Raquel Arce, in an interview on Monday, June 12, said the Filinvest Group is already conducting a bidding process for the possible contractor of the traffic light system project.
Arce said the group is planning to use the Sydney Coordinated Adaptive Traffic System (Scats).
In an interview with SunStar Cebu’s “Beyond the Headlines” on Friday, June 9, ex-Cebu City administrator Nigel Paul Villarete warned the Cebu City Government against putting any disruption that would interrupt the flow of traffic at the CSCR.
Villarete argued that having an intersection would affect the economic viability of the expressway.
He said the economic viability of an expressway would depend on the economic internal rate of return measured based on the speed of vehicles.
“Once the speed of vehicles goes down, the economic viability of an expressway will also go down,” explained Villarete.
According to Jonathan Tumulak, City of Talisay- Traffic Operations and Development Authority head, the Talisay section of the CSCR has six junctions which include Laray, corner Rafael Rabaya, corner Uldog, San Isidro, A. Bacaltos and Calmar.
Tumulak said the traffic lights which were installed at every junction have contributed a lot in managing traffic in the area. (AML)