The city government has allotted around P10 million for the expansion next year of the city’s newly-opened bicycle or bike and walk/run lane.
Ruel Tianchon, City Engineer’s Office head, said Friday they are currently working on a development plan for the project, which will extend the existing concrete bike and walk/run lane from Barangay Zone III to Carpenter Hill.
He said it will start in front of the new city hall complex and end at the entrance of the Region 12 government center site.
The city is the regional administrative seat and center of Region 12, which is also known as Soccsksargen.
“This is to encourage more residents, especially those employed at the regional offices, to use bicycles in moving around the city,” he said in a radio interview.
Tianchon said they have included the project, which was earlier endorsed by City Mayor Peter Miguel, in the city’s Annual Investment Plan for 2017.
He said they will immediately start the preparatory works upon the approval of its budget by the Sangguniang Panlungsod or city council.
The local government initially opened in early October the initial component of the bike and walk/run lane, which is located beside the national highway.
It spent around P11 million for the project, which stretches from the new city hall complex to the city’s rotunda or round ball.
The city council had passed an ordinance for the use of the bike and walk/run lane that it officially named as “Tikang Sikad Lane.”
The measure includes prohibitions and corresponding penalties on the parking of motorized vehicles in portions of the lane.
Tianchon said that aside from the expansion of the bike and walk/run lane, they have proposed for the construction of bleachers and the beautification of its sides.
He said the beautification includes the painting of the lane and landscaping of some portions of its sides.
The initiative will be implemented in coordination with the Office of the City Architect, he said.(PNA)
