Those leaving or arriving in Cebu by plane or boat on Sunday this week will have to do it early to avoid being stranded in traffic caused by the Cobra Energy Drink Ironman 70.3 triathlon event.
Traffic officials in the cities of Lapu-Lapu, Cebu and Mandaue gave this advice after they finished a walk-through of the event’s route that will be covered by 2,000 participants.
The Cebu provincial government will print signages informing the motorists of alternative routes, Provincial Tourism Officer Mary Grace Paulino said yesterday.
Rafael Yap, operations director of the Cebu City Integrated Operations Management (Citom), said Legaspi Extension near Plaza Independencia will be a bottleneck for vehicles and travelers headed to the port area.
Passenger jeepneys that ply the roads along the North Reclamation Area (NRA) will be re-routed, he said.
“Motorists, drivers and other road users are advised to follow the traffic signs installed on the re-routed areas,” Yap said.
The Citom press release also mentioned that Legaspi Extension and the Pier 1 gate will serve as entry points to vehicles headed for the port area.
Extra security
Vehicles using McArthur Boulevard and Sergio Osmeña Road will be rerouted to P del Rosario Street to the New Imus Road then to the NRA.
The Ironman route in Cebu City starts from the Mahiga Bridge located near the Cebu Ports Authority, then heads to the South Coastal Road Tunnel and winds up at the South Coastal Road up to Talisay City’s side.
“Overall condition of the roads is fair to good. Some rough spots at the NRA. The SRP is fine,” Yap said.
About 1,000 personnel from the military, police and ronda tanods will be deployed to secure the event hosted by Lapu-Lapu City.
Senior Supt. Rey Lyndon Lawas, Lapu-Lapu City police chief, said they will take extra security measures in the wake of last week’s bombing at a mall in Cagayan de Oro City.
The Lapu-Lapu City Traffic Management System said the same roads used in last year’s triathlon will be closed.
Alternative routes were set up for motorists headed to the Mactan Cebu International Airport.
Open roads
Roads from Punta Engaño to M. L. Quezon National Highway to the junction of Marcelo Fernan Bridge will be closed from 4:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Sunday.
All side roads leading to the main highway covered by the race will be closed to traffic during the entire event. Roads open for motorists are those in Mactan, Marigondon, and Basak.
Those headed to and coming from the airport can use the Sangi-Matumbo road or the Mactan Benito Ebuen Airbase road.
“Those headed to the airport should leave two hours ahead of schedule to avoid missing their flights,” said Frank Brazil, head of the Lapu-Lapu City Traffic Management System.
The Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue (Team) said they will close Plaridel St. corner UN Avenue up to CIP Mandaue and Cebu City boundary. Intersections of Plaridel St and G. Ouano, A.C. Cortes, and C. Ouano St.
The intersection of A. Soriano Avenue and SB Cabahug St. will also be closed to all types of vehicles.
Students will also be on key routes to cheer the participants which include celebrities like actor Piolo Pascual among others.
Provincial administrator Mark Tolentino said the province promised the triathlon’s organizers of coordination among local government units involved in the event.
Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III said he is confident that the event will be a success due to the efforts of the LGUs and the private sector stakeholders. With Correspondents Peter L. Romanillos and Norman V. Mendoza