I hope this letter finds you well, Mr. Editor.
I am writing to follow up on my previous communication regarding the proposed pedestrian overpass near Corpus Christi School along Masterson Avenue, Cagayan de Oro.
As a concerned member of the community, I would like to reiterate my objections to the project and respectfully request a response from the relevant authorities.
Lack of traffic and pedestrian studies
To date, no publicly available traffic impact or pedestrian flow studies have been presented to justify the construction of the overpass.
Without this critical data, it is difficult to assess whether the project will effectively address the community’s transportation needs, particularly in terms of pedestrian safety and traffic management.
Low utilization of overpasses in urban areas
Experience from nearby cities such as Iligan shows that pedestrian overpasses are often underused due to inconvenience, increased walking distance, and safety concerns.
Local observations, including those of the overpass in front of SM City Uptown, suggest that many pedestrians still prefer to cross at-grade when it is more convenient or perceived as safer.
Unclear benefits to traffic flow
The main issue along Masterson Avenue is vehicular congestion caused by gridlock traffic, roadside parking, and bottlenecks — not pedestrian crossings.
Multiple reports have documented severe traffic delays during peak hours.
Building an overpass without addressing these root causes will likely not improve traffic flow, as pedestrians are not the primary contributors to congestion.
Given these points, I respectfully urge your office to reconsider the necessity and approach of the pedestrian overpass project.
More effective and targeted solutions — such as signalized pedestrian crossings, improved traffic management, stricter enforcement of parking regulations, and the construction of pedestrian islands — would better serve the community’s needs.
Finally, I request the immediate disclosure of any traffic and pedestrian studies that justify this project, or at the very least, the suspension of its implementation until a comprehensive review and public consultation can be conducted.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. I hope this prompts a response from the authorities.
CDO Concerned Citizen
