Mayor Rama Puts Off P750M Tunnel Project

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has ordered the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) in Cebu City to hold in abeyance the construction of a P750-million tunnel at the intersection of N. Bacalso Ave. and F. Llamas St., this city.

Rama said he wants the DPWH to widen first Sabellano St. and Tagunol Road leading to Jaca St. before the implementation of the tunnel project.

If these roads will be left in their current state and the tunnel project will be implemented, he said the area will be heavily congested.

“If they will make Sabellano a diversion, it is not enough to absorb all the vehicles. If they will utilize Tagunol, even that area is already congested,” he said.

“I am looking at this macro, micro level. We are not ready for it. That situation, the layout of our road is not ready for it. It is not yet what we need as of now,” he said.

“It is the responsibility of the mayor to see how far is the inconvenience because if the inconvenience would somehow be unacceptable, intolerable and chaotic and creating havoc, then I don’t think it is pressing enough to have that now,” he said.

The two-lane 700-meter long tunnel, which is expected to cost P750 million, is a pet project of Rep. Rodrigo Abellanosa (Cebu City, south district).

It will be a Stormwater Management and Road Tunnel (Smart) patterned after the one in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Abellanosa said he believes it will help address floods and traffic jams in the south district. (PNA) CTB/EB/EDS