MOTORISTS passing through the busy intersection of UN Ave. and M.C. Briones St., in front of Pacific Mall, can expect a significant traffic overhaul starting next month.
The City Government is set to roll out a new traffic scheme in April, following geometric improvements aimed at easing congestion in the area.
On Thursday, March 13, 2025, Assistant City Administrator Florentino Nimor, Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue (Team) head Hyll Retuya and project supplier Timothy Ong inspected the progress of the ongoing road enhancements.
According to Retuya, the City has allocated P9 million for the project.
He said the new scheme will likely be implemented after Holy Week, as this would allow ample time for the road’s healing period before the asphalt overlay is applied.
“We also need to deploy personnel, especially at the start, because we have many concrete barricades to set up. This is necessary to prevent motorists from being misguided,” Retuya said in Cebuano.
Originally scheduled for completion in February, the project faced delays due to persistent heavy rainfall that hindered construction.
Officials now expect the improvements to be finished by the third week of April.
One of the key modifications includes the relocation of the pedestrian refuge island and the traffic light system to the side of the intersection.
Road concreting is currently underway, to be followed by asphalt overlaying and the addition of lane markings.
To improve the flow of vehicles, the stop line at the intersection will be moved further back, allowing larger vehicles more room to maneuver.
The new scheme will introduce four southbound lanes, two leading toward Cebu City and two dedicated left-turn lanes for traffic heading to Lapu-Lapu City.
In addition, vehicles traveling to Consolacion and northern Mandaue will be rerouted to use the bridge over the Butuanon River, which runs parallel to M.C. Briones St.
Previously, this two-lane bridge was designated only for vehicles coming from Lapu-Lapu City.
To help motorists adjust to the changes, guide posts with directional signage will be placed in advance of the intersection.
Retuya expressed confidence that these measures will help decongest the intersection and improve traffic flow.
“This will solve the traffic congestion because it will help manage the volume of vehicles. After this, we will work on other intersections because they are the ones receiving the traffic buildup,” he said.
Concrete barricades will also be installed to further streamline traffic movement.
Another major feature of the project is the installation of an adaptive traffic light system.
These smart traffic signals, equipped with cameras, will monitor real-time road conditions and automatically adjust signal durations based on vehicle presence and congestion levels.
The system will also classify and count vehicles, with the collected data sent to a central database to assist the City in traffic monitoring and planning.
Retuya expects that once fully operational, the upgraded intersection and traffic control system will significantly improve mobility and reduce bottlenecks in one of Mandaue’s busiest roadways. / CAV