BACOLOD City – For 90 days beginning today the Bacolod Traffic Authority Council (BTAC) will test a new traffic plan that includes a truck ban and a one-way scheme.
According to Mayor Alfredo Abelardo Benitez, the new traffic plan is in “response man sa aton gina-expect nga traffic this Christmas holidays.”
“We want to try this out in an experimental basis, in the light that this can reduce traffic, tawhay man para sa aton Christmas break and festivities,” he said.
Police Major Junji Liba, head of the Bacolod Traffic Authority Office (BTAO), said a total truck ban will be imposed from 4 a.m. to 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
No window hour for all trucks passing through the Circumferential Road.
From 8 a.m. until 4 p.m., a regulated truck entry will be implemented; trucks can pass through the Circumferential Road with a specified time interval and those carrying perishable goods are exempted, Liba said.
Meanwhile, a one-way scheme will be observed along the following streets of Lacson, Aguinaldo and Gatuslao.
* Aguinaldo Street – south to north direction – will become a one-way road with diagonal parking, eastside only
* Gatuslao Street – north to south – will also become a one-way road with diagonal parking, westside only
* Streets from Lacson to Aguinaldo, from east to west, westward, can only pass through 12th, 14th, 16th, 18th, 22nd, 23rd, and 25th streets (diagonal parking, northside only)
* Streets from Aguinaldo to Lacson, from west to east, eastward can only pass through 13th, 15th, 17th, 19th, 21st, and 24th streets (diagonal Parking southside only).
The BTAO head further said with the new traffic plan, they will clamp and tow illegally parked vehicles around the city.
“This strategy is yet to be finalized with the city’s third party contractor but will surely be implemented once everything is settled,” Liba explained.
On Saturday, Dec. 10, the city government led by Benitez, held a public consultation with the purpose of compromising into a solution to at least ease the congestion on the Circumferential Road.
“This will be on an experimental basis. If it doesn’t work then we adjust. Rest assured that I will be on top of this and make sure it’s properly implemented,” the mayor said./PN