TRAFFIC woes are expected to turn from bad to worse in the city with next week’s closure of a vital access road to the city proper here.

Set initially for temporary closure starting yesterday, Monday, and totally by March 15 is a portion of the national highway in barangay Tapuac here which is due for upgrading.

The road, a perennial flood-prone area, is set to be raised by .074 meter, beyond reach by the flood anymore.

The Public Order and Safety Office (POSO) has recommended the re-routing of the east-bound vehicles from the west to the De Venecia Highway and Malued Road and west-bound vehicle from the city proper to Caranglaan Road, then to De Venecia Highway to prevent a bad traffic standstill.

Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez asked City Engineer Virginia Rosario to talk to the Department of Public Works and Highways to find out if the about-to-be-finished Dawel-Pantal-Lucao Diversion road can already be used prior to its inauguration sometime in April.

The new road, she said, can be used as one-way exit road to the west from the city’s downtown area.

City Councilor Karlos Reyna is now holding a public consultation with the affected owners of business establishments in order to come out with a proposed resolution seeking the advanced opening of just a portion of the Dawel-Pantal-Lucao Road. (PNA)