EDITORIAL – Wasted road sections

Several months after we made our first observation of our “wasted road sections,” the problem still persists.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) implemented extensive road widening construction projects since last year in just about every vital road artery in Davao City. We surmise these projects are worth millions of taxpayers’ money. While we welcome this development amidst the problematic traffic situation in the city, the expanded roads appear to not serve the purpose they are intended for.
Let us count the ways.
First, these new lanes do not reflect the masterful work of professional engineers. In most of these expanded lanes, there stood electric posts or other man-made obstructions which, with proper coordination, planning and execution, could be eased out of the road thereby creating no impediment for a smooth flow of traffic.
Second, the elevated sidewalk criss-cross through properties varying from standard width to constricted.
Third, these new road sections end up as convenient concrete parking bays for residents and establishments alike. There are even some sections along Diversion Road where restaurants use the road section as kitchen extension with huge cauldrons sitting on open flame stoves.
The DPWH must do something with the road obstructions and not just elude or ignore light posts and other obstructions which are movable in nature. Likewise, the Traffic Management Center of the city government can also do something about the road obstructions like the illegally parked cars and the so-called kitchen extensions.