At last.

Repairs are now going on at the “abortion highway” in Brgy. Sum-ag, Bacolod City, and a temporary rerouting scheme will be implemented there, Traffic Management Unit head, Chief Insp. Luisito Acebuche, said yesterday.

This is because the ongoing work on the Araneta highway is causing a traffic gridlock at the southern portion of Bacolod City.

Acebuche said vehicles may use Villarosa Street as alternative route to decongest traffic at the Araneta highway especially during rush hours.

He added that the TMU will also suggest that huge trucks temporarily use the old Sum-ag bridge, and other vehicles use the new one.

Aside from Brgy. Sum-ag, they are also planning to reroute vehicles at Bangga Cory in Brgy. Alijis because of the ongoing repair of the Circumferential road, he also said.

TMU has already assigned enforcers in these areas to oversee the traffic situation.

Since last week The DAILY STAR had been receiving numerous complaints from the public about the worsening traffic congestion in the area because of the road repair being undertaken by the Department of Public Works and Highway.

Some motorists expressed surprise that the DPWH decided to repair the road now when All Souls and All Saints days and the Yuletide season are nearing and huge volumes of vehicles are expected to be going in and out of the city.

Bacolod Vice Mayor Jude Thaddeus Sayson, meanwhile, called on the DPWH through District Engineer Reynaldo Venturina to assign additional personnel in the areas where road repairs are being undertaken to assist the enforcers in ensuring smooth traffic flow.

He said the contractors of the road repairs, especially at the Araneta highway, should finish repairing one lane before reconstructing other lanes in order to minimize traffic congestion.

Sayson, who had called the Araneta high-way in Brgy. Sum-ag an “abortion road” because of its many pot holes that cause bumpy and uncomfortable rides, also appealed to the public to be patient because the repair of the road is for everyone's convenience.*APN

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