Repair work on the Marcelo Fernan Bridge will stop during the celebration of the 492nd anniversary of the Battle of Mactan.
Paul Dy, operations manager of the PLD Construction, told reporters that they heeded the request of the Lapu-Lapu City government to temporarily cease operations on April 26 and 27.
On April 27, Lapu-Lapu City is scheduled to hold its annual commemoration of the “Kadaugan sa Mactan,” the historic defeat of Spanish conquistador Ferdinand Magellan by Datu Lapu-Lapu.
Dy also said that they have reduced maintenance working hours on the bridge. Instead of 24 hours, they are having eight hours of work, from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
“There will be a little bit of extension but we assure that we will finish it at the fastest possible time with quality,” he told reporters.
PLD Construction is the contractor contracted by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 7 for the repair of the second bridge.
The bridge is undergoing asphalting and repair of its expansion joints.
Some P27 million was set aside to replace the asphalt and two expansion joints of the Marcelo B. Fernan Bridge.
Frank Brazil, chief of the traffic division of Lapu-Lapu City, told reporters that they have made the request since they will have a street party on those dates.
The Kadaugan street party will happen in the evening in one lane of M.L. Quezon Highway starting at the first bridge to the Marcelo Fernan Bridge. Events include variety shows, discos, a car show and a midnight beer run.
The two lanes of the highway will be closed at that time.
Brazil also said that they will be deploying a total of 40 traffic enforcers to man the traffic during that time.
Meanwhile, Cordova town Mayor Adelino Sitoy proposed to the Metro Cebu Bridge Management Board to rename the old Mactan-Mandaue bridge after Sergio Osmeña, Jr.
Sitoy said that it is fitting that it would be renamed after Osmena since he was the person who pushed for the creation of the first bridge connecting Mandaue and Mactan Island.
Osmeña has served as governor of the province in 1951. He is the father of Cebu City south district Rep. Tomas Osmeña and Senator Sergio “Serge” Osmeña III.