‘Be an hour early in crossing Marcelo Fernan bridge’

LEAVE an hour ahead of your usual travel time going to your destination in Lapu-Lapu or Mandaue City or avoid the Marcelo Fernan bridge route if possible starting Monday.

This was the advice of the Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue City governments to the riding public, including export processing zone workers, who would be affected by road work at the foot of the bridge in United Nations Avenue in Mandaue City.

Despite the short notice frOm the Department of Public Works and Highways, local governments are notifying affected establishments and residents to expect heavy traffic.

No rerouting of vehicles is neeeded, said Frank Brazil Lapu-Lapu City Traffic Management System chief, but warning signs will be put up at the Lapu-Lapu side of the bridge.

He also promised to field more traffic enforcers in the area starting Monday.

He said he was hoping that motorists would follow a single line for a smooth flow of traffic.

Brazil said that his office would be ready to help Mandaue City counterparts to guide traffic flow and respond immediately in case of accidents.

Mandaue City officials will conduct an ocular inspection of the site to look for more ways to manage the traffic once work starts in the area.

The officials will be led by architect Florentino Nimor, city planning officer, and Edwin Ermac, Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue City head.

Ermac earlier said that there would be no rerouting in the area either .

But no-stopping zones in the affected areas will be strictly enforced, he siad.

Ermac also said earlier that more traffic enforcers would be posted in the affected areas.

The DPWH will start road concreting work on a 1 kilometer stretch of UN Avenue from the foot of the bridge to Plardel Street in Mandaue City.

The road work is expected to continue for 180 days, ending in Feb. 3, 2013./Correspondent Fe Marie Dumaboc