Heavy traffic at SRP seen due to BINI concert

Local

CEBU City is bracing for heavy traffic at the South Road Properties (SRP) on Saturday, July 11, as thousands of fans are expected to flock to the sold-out BINI "Signals" World Tour concert.

This has prompted the city government to impose a temporary truck ban around the area's newest landmark, the SM Seaside Cebu Arena.

Mayor Nestor Archival signed an Executive Order (EO) imposing a temporary ban on trucks and other heavy cargo vehicles along key roads within the SRP from 4 p.m. to midnight on July 11 to ease congestion and ensure the smooth flow of traffic during the highly anticipated concert.

The concert serves as the first major public event at the newly opened ₱7-billion SM Seaside Cebu Arena, a 25,000-seater venue expected to become one of the country's premier destinations for concerts, sporting events, and large-scale entertainment.

In the EO, Archival noted that the SRP has become a heavily congested corridor due to the volume of private vehicles, public transportation, and cargo traffic converging in the area, particularly during major events.

The mayor said temporarily restricting heavy vehicles is necessary to decongest traffic, maintain the orderly movement of vehicles, and protect the convenience and safety of motorists and the riding public.

The truck ban covers the following roads within the SRP:

F. Vestil Street

Cebu South Coastal Road

SRP Bypass Road

El Pardo Road

SRP Backroad

The restriction applies to all trucks and similar heavy vehicles, including six-wheelers and larger trucks, trailers, cargo vans with a gross vehicle weight exceeding 4,500 kilograms, and other delivery and hauling vehicles, whether loaded or unloaded.

Exempted from the temporary truck ban are:

Fire trucks, ambulances, police vehicles, and other emergency and disaster response units;

Vehicles transporting perishable goods, petroleum products, and other essential supplies upon presentation of appropriate delivery documents;

Utility vehicles of electric, water, telecommunications, and other public utility companies responding to service interruptions or emergency repairs; and

Government vehicles performing official and emergency functions.

The exemptions are subject to prior coordination with the Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) and traffic personnel assigned to the area.

The CCTO, in coordination with the Philippine National Police, the Traffic Enforcement Unit, and other concerned city offices, has been directed to strictly implement the order through the deployment of traffic personnel, signage, and barricades at strategic entry and exit points.

Motorists and freight operators are also advised to take alternate routes during the implementation of the truck ban.

Violators may face penalties under existing Cebu City traffic regulations and Republic Act No. 4136, or the Land Transportation and Traffic Code, including the possible impoundment of offending vehicles.

Saturday's sold-out BINI concert is the first major event at the newly opened SM Seaside Cebu Arena, a ₱7-billion investment of SM Prime Holdings that expands the company's integrated development at the SRP.

Designed by global architecture firm Arquitectonica, the arena spans more than seven hectares of gross floor area and can accommodate up to 25,000 spectators.

It features a center-hung display system for concerts and sporting events, as well as 30 premier suites overlooking the venue.

SM Prime has described the arena as a key addition to Cebu's growing live entertainment industry, allowing the city to host more local and international acts while boosting tourism and economic activity in the Visayas.

Following BINI's concert, the arena is scheduled to host performances by IV of Spades, TJ Monterde and KZ Tandingan, Hillsong Worship, and LANY.(TGP)