Airport execs ask DPWH to allow one lane for Lapu

WITH the third phase of repairs on the Marcelo Fernan bridge starting today, airport officials asked the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) to maintain at least one open lane heading to Lapu-Lapu City.

Engr. Nigel Paul Villarete, manager of the Mactan Cebu International Airport Authority (MCIAA), said this will ensure smooth travel for passengers heading to and leaving the airport site.

Phase three will cover the right lane from Mandaue to Lapu-Lapu City beside the sidewalk based on the DPWH’s original bridge repair traffic plan, giving only one lane for Lapu-Lapu-bound vehicles in crossing the Fernan Bridge.

To avoid congestion, Villarete asked the DPWH to allow one counterflow lane in the Mandaue-bound part of the bridge.

“This has been my stand even during the meeting of the technical working group (TWG) prior to the start of the repair,” the airport official said.

But the traffic plan doesn’t allow counterflow in any of the six phases.

Villarete said he asked the DPWH one day to implement the two lanes scheme going to Mandaue and one lane to Lapu-Lapu.

“If there is a problem encountered by airport passengers because of the single lane, they (DPWH) will have to follow my suggestion,” Villarete said.

Phase 3 covers the right lane from Mandaue to Lapu-Lapu beside the sidewalk.

Phase four of the repairs will cover the left lane from Mandaue to Lapu-Lapu beside the center island while the fifth phase will cover the right lane of the viaduct at the Lapu-Lapu side.

The final phase will cover the left lane of the viaduct on the Lapu-Lapu City side.

The DPWH earlier announced that repairs of the bridge’s expansion joints are 12 days ahead of schedule.

The agency is aiming to finish repairs before the August 30 target.

Engr. Raul Giducos, DPWH’s site engineer,  credited good weather in helping them expedite the completion of the first phase of repairs.

Giducos said if the good weather continues, the whole repair might be completed on the last day of July or a full month ahead of schedule.

Traffic on the bridge was heavy following last week’s opening of private schools. Correspondents Jessa Ague and Fe Marie Dumaboc