Ferry companies expecting higher turnout of passengers

Commuters and motorists traveling to and from the cities of Cebu and Mandaue to Lapu-Lapu City should brace for heavy traffic caused by the expansion joint repairs on the Marcelo Fernan bridge which starts today.

The brunt of the traffic is expected to be focused on the old Mactan-Mandaue bridge, the sole gateway connecting the Cebu mainland to Lapu-Lapu City now that the Fernan bridge will be partly closed for repairs for 88 calendar days.

Bridge repairs will  close one lane of the four-lane Fernan bridge at a time until August 30.

Public works officials earlier advised the riding public to allot a two-hour leeway for their road trips.

With the Fernan bridge partly shut down, commuters in the cities of Cebu, Mandaue or Lapu-Lapu may either insist on a road trip or ride a ferry to and from their destination to cut down on travel time.

The Metro Ferry Shipping in Muelle Osmeña wharf in Lapu-Lapu City which runs seven ferry boats from Lapu-Lapu City to Pier 3 in Cebu City and vice versa will add another ticket booth to accommodate an increase of passengers.

Fatima Ocab, ticket and passenger control officer said they expect long lines of passengers that may even reach up to the Birhen sa Regla Parish several meters away.

“It happened during the fiesta and when the old Mactan-Mandaue bridge was closed for repairs. We added another booth to accommodate the passengers,” Ocab said.

Travel time

She said she’s worried about the commuters who would have to brave the heat or the rains just to buy tickets.

Ocab said they may ask Lapu-Lapu City officials to provide tents for the passengers.

Metro  Ferry Shipping’s seven ferry boats travel to and from Cebu City and Mandaue City to Lapu-Lapu City from 6 a.m to 10 p.m. with a travel time of 20 minutes.

Their smaller boat can transport 112 passengers while the bigger vessels accommodate 312 passengers.

Ocab said they average 6,000 to 8,000 passengers per day, with the highest number on Mondays.

They charge P14.00 as regular fare, with P12.00 for students and senior citizens and P8.00 for children.

Rex Asuncion, Metro Ferry’s supervisor said they just hope none of their boats will malfunction so they can accommodate the passengers.

24-hour schedule

PO2 Dindo Sabanal of the Cebu Coast Guard Station detailed in Lapu-Lapu City said they will require ferry companies to produce manifests so each passenger is accounted for and conduct inspections on every vessel for their safety.

Fritz Menguito, a 22-year-old resident of Lapu-Lapu City who regularly rides the ferry to and from Cebu City, said even with the traffic he may insist on riding on land rather than water.

“I prefer road trips because I’m sure that I am headed straight to my destination,” Menguito said.

The Lapu-Lapu City government earlier voiced hope that the repairs will be finished ahead of schedule.

Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza said the city will host the Iron Man International triathlon event on Aug. 5. The fifth phase of the bridge repair will be done on Aug. 3 to 16.

But Lapu-Lapu City administrator Teodolo Ybañez said the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) assured them that they will speed up the bridge repairs by working on a 24-hour, seven days a week schedule.

Ybañez, who represents Lapu-Lapu City in the Mactan-Cebu Bridge Management Board (MCBMB), earlier reiterated the use of the old Mactan-Mandaue bridge for motorists and commuters heading to the Mactan-Cebu international airport.

No stopping rule

He said motorists from Cebu mainland can pass by the corner of Petron gas station in barangay Pajo,  Lapu-Lapu city then to sitio Matumbo in barangay Pusok, then to the airport road in the corner of the Island Souvenir shop.

Ybañez said motorists can use the alternate route in Matumbo road, barangay Pusok to head to the airport.

He said they asked the Mactan Benito Ebeun Airbase to allow vehicles from the airport to use  the exit gate of the airbase.

The Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue City (Team) won’t implement a re-routing scheme in Mandaue City but will enforce a no- stopping rule for vehicles at the foot of the Fernan bridge.

Team chief Edwin Ermac said they consider phase three of the Fernan bridge joint repairs which starts on July 2 and ends on July 19 as critical since it covers the right lane from Mandaue to Lapu-Lapu City.

Ermac said they’re recommending that they destroy portions of the bridge’s center island to allow vehicles to use a detour.

Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu City traffic enforcers will help the DPWH manage vehicle flow during the 88-day repair period.

Six stage phase

The first three phases of the six-stage Fernan bridge repair will  close one of the lanes for traffic from Lapu-Lapu City  to Mandaue City.

Ybañez said they will then close one of two lanes at a time in the Mandaue City to Lapu-Lapu City direction.

The first phase which starts today and is expected to end on June 17 will cover the repair of expansion joints in the right lane from Lapu-Lapu to Mandaue beside the sidewalk.

Phase 2 which covers the June 18 to July 1 period will cover repairs to the inner lane from Lapu-Lapu to Mandaue beside the center island.

Phase 3 from July 2 to July 19 covers the right lane from Mandaue to Lapu-Lapu beside the sidewalk.

Phase 4 which starts on July 20 and ends on August 2 will cover repairs on the left lane from Mandaue to Lapu-Lapu beside the center island.

Phase 5 will be from Aug. 3 to Aug. 16 will cover the right lane of the viaduct at the Lapu-Lapu side.

The final phase which starts on Aug. 17 and ends on Aug. 30 covers the left lane of the viaduct on the Lapu-Lapu City side.

Engr. Suico said traffic advisories and directional signs were placed on strategic locations in Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu cities. Norman V. Mendoza, Correspondent with Correspondents Fe Marie Dumaboc and Jessa Marie C. Agua