Commuters, motorists urged to be more patient

THE Roads and Traffic Administration is urging motorists and commuters to be more patient in dealing with the heavy traffic congestion that is happening almost every day in the city, especially along CM Recto, Valenzuela Road, Osmeña Extension, Gaabucayan Road, and Corrales Extension.

According to Engr. Nonito Oclarit, RTA assistant department head and traffic chief for operations, the heavy congestion in the thouroughfares of the city is caused by a major road repair and an ongoing bridge construction by the Jejors Construction Company.

Oclarit said the company is also doing the civil works repair of the circumferential road in Agora, Barangay Lapasan and Gaabucayan St.

He added that the company also demolished the bridge in Gaabucayan street to make way for Bitan-ag Creek.

“Ang buhaton nila diha nga tulay, ila nang ipahabog, nga pareho anang tulay diha sa national highway du-ol sa USTP,” Oclarit explained.

In their meeting with the Department of Public Works and Highway recently, he said, it was agreed that the bridge in Gaabucayan needed to be lifted to avoid an overflow of Bitan-ag Creek during the rainy season.

“Kon ma-estangko ang tubig baha sa tulay sa Gaabucayan, mobalik ang tubig sa national highway. Ma-o nang magbaha anang entrance sa USTP ug Limketkai Area. Mao nang ang maong tulay sa Gaabucayan, ipahabog gyud, sigon sa  recommendation sa DPWH,”  he said.

Oclarit estimated the heavy traffic congestion along Gaabucayan St. until Dec. 31, this year.

“Taas pa gyud ang atong antos sa traffic ana nga mga dalan, kay ang ilang  construction sa Jejors hangtud pa man sa bulan sa December,” he said,

Oclarit said Mayor Oscar Moreno has issued Executive Order 132-2018, which makes Gaabucayan St. a one-way street, in deference to the company’s ongoing road repair and bridge construction.

“Kadtong  tanang  klase sa vehicle nga gikan sa highway agi sa Osmeña Extension, dili dila maka right turn sa Gaabucayan. Kadto sang mga vehicle nga gikan sa Agora agi sa Gaabucayan, dili sab sila maka left turn sa Osmeña Extension, ang ilang buhaton,  mo-diretso sila sa Corrales Extension, ma-o ang Corrales gikan sa Gaisano apiktado sab sa heavy traffic,” explained Oclarit.