Traffic congestion? Switch off traffic light – Pavia dad

ILOILO – How do you solve the traffic congestion at the intersection of two major roads – Sen. Benigno Aquino Jr. Avenue and President Corazon Aquino Avenue – in Barangay Ungka II, Pavia town?

Switch off the traffic light during rush hours, said Pavia Sangguniang Bayan (SB) member Jose Maria “Pyt” Trimañez, chairperson of the committee on transportation.

Traffic lights are signaling devices positioned at road intersections, pedestrian crossings and other locations to control the flow of traffic. The goal is to facilitate the safe movement of vehicles to avoid collisions.

But during rush hours at the intersection in Barangay Ungka II, Pavia the traffic light appears to contribute to the congestion.

According to Trimañez, beginning December 2018 “gina-switch off naton ang traffic light.

Gina-mano-mano sang traffic enforcers naton para mahatagan more time ang mga salakyan from Pavia or Iloilo Airport going to Iloilo City kon peak hours from 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m.”

In the afternoon, the traffic light is switched off from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. “para mahatagan priority ang vehicles from Iloilo City going to the airport,” said Trimañez.

The SB member observed that the volume of vehicles passing the intersection – either going to Iloilo City or leaving the city, and those going to Barangay Tacas, Jaro, Iloilo City from Barangay Hibao-an, Mandurriao, Iloilo City and vice versa – would increase during the following hours: 6:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Four traffic auxiliaries are assigned to direct the flow of vehicles at the intersection from 6:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. daily, said Trimañez.

After the rush hours, or between 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. “gina-switch on naman ang traffic light kay indi naman tuman ka-traffic sa lugar,” he said.

During this time, the “go” period for vehicles going to Iloilo City or leaving the city is only 55 seconds while for those going to Barangay Tacas, Jaro from Barangay Hibao-an, Mandurriao, 30 seconds.

Trimañez clarified, however, that switching off the traffic light during rush hours is a short-term solution to the congestion at the intersection.

The long-term solution, he said, is building a flyover in the area.

During a meeting last month, said Trimañez, Department of Public Works and Highways assured municipal officials of Pavia that a flyover would indeed be constructed.

No date, however, was given.

“For us, amo gid ina ang pinaka-solution. Sobra kadamo sang salakyan, kinahanglan na gid flyover,” said Trimañez.

Congestion at the intersection is testing the patience of drivers and commuters. It gets worse during rush hours, especially during Mondays and Fridays, according to George Hinosa, driver of Quarry taxi.

Vehicles move at a snail’s pace, he lamented, wasting some 20 precious minutes of passengers who are mostly employees and students fearful of being late reporting for work or school, or late in going home./PN

2 COMMENTS

  1. Turn off the traffic lights and and more chaos to a chaotic situation? Where did you learn traffic management ? That will only work if you have cows and carabaos in your streets.

  2. This is a work of idiot who turn off the traffic light. Why you put traffic light and then turn off if the volume of traffic is to much. Mga ga go paano na ma serve ang purpose kong gina turn off mo ya ang traffic light kong sobra ang traffic. Kuhaa nalang ina mas lalo na gani mag traffic kong e turn off mo. Jose Maria “Pyt” Trimañez kuhaa nalang na antraffic light da kong e trun off mo kong heavy tyraffic. Gin butangan gani na traffic light para mag sunod ang mga salakyan sa traffic. inuti klasi tawo ini. mango kaayo.

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