CAGAYAN de Oro City 2nd District Rep. Rufus Rodriguez today said some P5.4 billion worth of public infrastructure projects were being built until 2024 to ease road congestion in the city.

Rodriguez even said these publicly funded roads and bridges would be finished starting this year “to at least bring back the city to normal traffic flow level.”

Rodriguez also today personally led the groundbreaking ceremonies for 5 major road development projects in Cagayan de Oro.

These major infrastructure projects are currently in varying stages of completion.

First, he said the construction of the Gusa to Puerto section of the bypass and diversion roads of the city coastal road, with an initial project budget of P123 million.

This development will decongest traffic in the city proper along Butuan City-Cagayan de Oro City-Iligan City Road (BCIR) and reduce travel time from 30 to 10 minutes.

Also undergoing construction is the 6-lane road in the Eastern Interior Bypass Road that will connect Gusa to Puerto along the junction Sayre Highway, amounting to a total of P2 billion.

“These two projects will provide an alternative route for travelers from Gusa to Puerto, especially for those trying to get directly to Bugo or other places east of CdeO,” Rodriguez said.

The third project is the construction of the Macabalan to Bonbon bridge, amounting to P1.3 billion for the bridge and viaduct structure. This will create an access road for any logistic transport to and from the Cagayan de Oro Port.

Another road development project is the construction of the south diversion road in the upland area of Mandumol, Nazareth connecting to BCIR in Lapasan. This will serve as an alternate route to decongest the main road in and out of the city. This project amounts to a total cost of P430 million.

“The diversion road in Mandumol is a crucial development because aside from helping decongest traffic, it also shortens travel time to tourist destination places and subdivisions in upland barangays and improves access to Bukidnon Province,” Rodriguez stated.

Fifth is the P1.6 billion new diversion road starting in Balubal connecting to Sayre Highway towards the eastern barangays, to be connected to Pueblo de Oro Old Airport Road and BCIR Access Road of Laguindingan International Airport.

Once completed, the diversion road will improve accessibility to Laguindingan International Airport and decongest the CDO-Iligan road.

According to DPWH, this project will boost economic development and tourism in the upland areas by encouraging international and domestic investments in the area.

“The goal really of these infrastructure projects is to ensure that travelling, especially commuting, is comfortable and convenient for the public. Proper infrastructure is requisite for better public transportation,” Rodriguez explained.

Residents and tourists have long complained about heavy traffic in the major highways of the city causing inconvenience to drivers and commuters.

In response to this, the lawmaker said that the mentioned road development projects are being prioritized by the regional public work and highways office (DPWH-10).

“I am in constant coordination with DPWH-10 to make sure that these projects are completed in by their target completion date and help ease the traffic problem in the city as soon as possible,” Rodriguez said.