Will rumble strips avert mishaps on Diversion Road?

By: Emme Rose Santiagudo

DEPARTMENT of Public Work and Highways (DPWH) personnel installed rumble strips on the busy Benigno Aquino Avenue (Diversion Road) in Mandurriao, Iloilo City on Wednesday in reaction to the mishap that claimed the lives of two public school teachers over the weekend.

The rumble strips are located some 20 meters from the pedestrian lane where teachers Alnie Dinah Pet-Osano and Marie Osano were killed by a speeding sports car morning of June 15, 2019.

Engr. Rodney Gustilo, head of the DPWH-Iloilo City District Engineering Office, confirmed the information in a phone interview Wednesday.

The rumble strips are road safety features that generate noise and vibrations when vehicles pass through them. The markings help alert drivers to potential dangers when driving in busy roads.

Gustilo said the installed rumble strips are just the first batch because they are still waiting for more supplies.

“Isa pa lang to ang rumble strips kay tungod ang material namon nga galamiton is to be delivered pa sang supplier tungod nga bag-o lang nag-abot budget namon sa maintenance. So, gina-facilitate pa namon maka-deliver and maka-continue kita,” he said.

Moreover, Gustilo said he submitted the lay-out of the Diversion Road indicating the location of the U-turn slots and the pedestrian lanes to Jeck Conlu, head of the Public Safety and Transportation Management Office (PSTMO) for possible recommendations.

“PSTMO will be the one nga mag-recommend which U-turn slot will be closed and if there is a need for some pedestrian lane to be eliminated or transferred to other places,” he said.

Once the PSTMO has made recommendations, Gustilo said they will continue the installation of rumble strips on the entire stretch of the Diversion road which has 29 pedestrian lanes.

“Kon mahatag na nila sa aton, i-follow up ko na bwas, that’s the time nga if na-identify na naton kon diin ang i-retain nga pedestrian lanes or may kuhaon then dira kita ma-continue install sang rumble strips,” he added.

The first set of rumble strips were 12 meters long, according to Gustilo.

The installation of the rumble strips was one of the short-term solutions initiated to prevent similar traffic incidents.