BACOLOD City – Lone District Rep. Greg Gasataya has underscored the importance of the median strip on Araneta Street, citing its purpose to reduce road accidents in the area.
“The median strip was installed there as a way to prevent traffic accidents as it keeps pedestrians safe when they stop in the middle of the road,” said Gasataya.
A median strip or central reservation is the reserved area that separates opposing lanes of traffic on divided roadways. The reserved area may be paved, but commonly it is adapted to other functions; for example, it may accommodate decorative landscaping, trees, or a median barrier.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is currently conducting construction on Araneta Street from barangays Tangub to Sum-ag in this city.
Gasataya said he encouraged DPWH to construct a median strip in the area after several people died from traffic accidents.
According to Engineer Abraham
Villareal, head of the District Engineering Office, the P84-million project
will span approximately 2.579 kilometers.
The project includes an asphalt overlay; construction of a traffic island;
double arm solar lamp post installation; along with the addition of
thermoplastic pavement markings at the edge line, center lines, crosswalks,
stopping lanes, among other areas.
Gasataya also said he requested DPWH
to include the installation of the solar lamps along Circumferential Road and
the Bacolod-Silay Airport Access Road in their proposed 2020 budget.
Earlier this month, the Sangguniang Panlungsod passed a resolution calling on
the City Engineer’s Office to consider the removal of traffic islands along
Narra Avenue, Narra Extension and Tindalo Avenue in the Shopping area.
City Councilor Dindo Ramos, who penned
the resolution, called the structures “outdated” and claimed its removal would
“maximize road use” and “ease traffic congestion.”/PN
