THE Roads and Traffic Administration (RTA) will be implementing a traffic rerouting scheme for west-bound and southwestern-bound public utility vehicles (PUJs) following the planned temporary closure of the Ysalina Bridge in Barangay Carmen, Cagayan de Oro City, from July 10 to 16.
Popularly known as "Carmen Bridge", the steel bridge is the oldest bridge in the city. It was inaugurated on August 26, 1931.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH)-Northern Mindanao Region is set to do a bridge retrofitting to the Ysalina Bridge next week which includes the laying of new asphalt making the bridge impassable for the duration of the retrofitting.
"Sa kanang waterproofing nga activity, dili man gud sya dapat maabugan mao nang dili sya pwede agi-an. Sa waterproofing, i-seal nila ang concrete pavement para dili masud.lan ug tubig. Kay ang concrete if maka absorb sya'g tubig, mas taas iyan possibility nga mada-ot. So ma-short ra ang iyang lifespan. (In the waterproofing activity, it should not be exposed to dust which is why it cannot be open for vehicles. They have to seal the concrete pavement so that water could not come in. Because if the concrete absorbs the water, it can be easily broken. So it will have a short life-span)," DPWH-Northern Mindanao information officer Vinah Maghinay explained.
RTA chief Edgardo Uy said that they have already planned a rerouting scheme to accommodate the PUJs that use the bridge.
The affected westbound PUJs will be the Iponan, Bulua, NHA, Kauswagan, Bayabas, Bonbon, Patag 6th Division-Apovel, Terry Hills, Camp Evangelista, and R-1/R-2 liners.
While the affected southern-western bound PUJs are the Macanhan or Balongis, Balulang, Villaverde, Zayas-Landfill, Silver Creek, Canitoan/Scions, Pagatpat, PN Roa/Calaanan, San Agustin, Xavier Heights/Pueblo de Oro, La Buena Vida, Lumbia, Tagpangi.
Westbound PUJs are advised to detour in the Rotunda area while the southern-western PUJs are to pass the Cagayan bridge instead.
"Maliban sa mga didto ra banda muhunong, ang katong mulahos jud from District 1 to District 2 and vice versa, diri jud mu agi sa Cagayan bridge ug sa JR Borja bridge. (So for those that will proceed from the District 1 to District 2 and vice versa, they will have to pass the Cagayan bridge or the JR Borja bridge)," Uy said.
Uy said that they are already expecting a heavy traffic volume in these areas from the morning of July 10 until the project is completed. Hence, they will be strict in monitoring the highways in those areas.
"Ang advise ko lang sa mga private car owners na kung mahimo didto na lang mo mu agi sa either Puntod Bridge or here in Marcos Bridge. Kay ang mga PUJ man gud kay diri mu.agi sa Rotunda ug sa Cagayan Bridge. (My advice to the private car owners is if possible, they just pass on either the Puntod Bridge or the Marcos Bridge. Because the PUJs will be concentrated on the Rotunda and Cagayan bridge)," Uy said.