CEBUANOS will be asked to bear with the inconvenience of rerouting in major roads till 12 noon today for the Ironman 70.3.
The whole coastal road from Mandaue City to the Talisay City Hall will be sealed from 5 a.m. to noon.
For those heading to boat trips in Pier 1, 2, 3, 4 , use the Legaspi Extension near Plaza Independencia as the only access.
Vehicles will be diverted to Lesgaspi Extention then to Arellano Boulevard.
Travelers are advised to leave their houses earlier that usual to avoid traffic congestion, said Rafael Yap, head of the Cebu City Traffic Operations Management.
Bike racers in the triathlon will use the the whole stretch of S. Osmena Road from the Mahiga Bridge in Mandaue City to MacArthur Boulevard then to the SRP tunnel and the South Coastal Road up to the turnaround station near Talisay City Hall.
About 240 Citom enforcers will be fielded along the race route and on parallel roads starting 4:30 a.m.
Talisay city traffic enforcers will be out in full force as well. .PO3 Juan Macabenta said vehicles should not pass the San Isidro intersection; they can go stratight and turn right after passing Talisay City Hall.
The most affected live in barangays San Roque, Tangke, Cansojong, Poblacion Dumlog and parts of San Isidro of Talisay.
In Mandaue city, several families rushed to buy goods in the new public market.
“I did my marketing on Saturday because the bike race will pass by. It may be chaotic on Sunday,” said sari-sari store owner Romilina Brigoli of barangay Ibabao-Estancia.
Milagros Sabulao, a market vendor, isn’t worried about less customers.
She said she actually expects more because many spectators will come to see famous athletes and celebrities. “Makakita sab mi og apil (We’ll be able to earn something with this).” Sabulao said.
Jessie Bacaling, a tricycle driver, said he was worried fewer passengers would be going to the market on Sunday.
“I hope many will come to watch the Ironman so I’ll have more passengers,” he said in Cebuano./Correspondents Edison Angeles, Gabriel Bonjoc and Norman V. Mendoza