BACOLOD City – In a bid to ease the metro’s traffic woes, Councilor Dindo Ramos is proposing to remove the median strip on Narra Avenue at the Capitol Shopping Center.
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.
Ramos authored a resolution enjoining the City Engineer’s Office (CEO) to consider the removal of the island. The said resolution was passed to the City Council last week.
According to Ramos, this move will improve the over-all traffic condition of the city.
“The CEO will study and consider the possibility of removing the center island to ease traffic congestion along the said areas,” he said.
The councilor added that the center island has outdated its original purpose and these spaces can be utilized to maximize road use.
This proposal, however, earned the ire of local residents, including environmentalists as it entails cutting down trees in the area. They claim that there is no congestion along that stretch of road and by cutting down trees – which brings cleaner air to the city – would only be detrimental to safety and health.
On his part, Mayor Evelio Leonardia said he will seek the approval of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources relative to the resolution because of the existing trees in the center island.
According to Leonardia, he is open to the request of the city council. He noted that the city government will form a team to evaluate and enforce the proposals./PN
