Asphalting of Ouano Ave. to slow traffic till January

Road  repairs  start this Saturday along  1.9 kilometers of  Ouano Avenue at the Mandaue Reclamation Area and is  expected to cause traffic through the holiday season.

One lane will be closed at a time for asphalting to minimize  disruption along the stretch which starts after the Cebu Port Authority until the intersection of the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC).

Ouano avenue is a vital road connecting Cebu city to Mandaue city, and is a favored route going to the Mactan airport.

Venray Construction,  the private contractor, said they would work 24/7  to finish earlier than scheduled by  January before the Sinulog festival as requested by public works officials.

Engineer Jose  Renee Niole said he was confident of meeting the Sinulog deadline since this was was  an asphalting job that doesn’t require a  curing  period.

It would take only one to three hours  after an asphalt overlay is applied for the road to be passable, he said.

Niole  asked for understanding and patience from the public for the temporary inconvenience.

The project has a 270-day contract period that ends on July 13, 2013.

Rachel Lumapas, project engineer of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 7 said traffic  would be manageable  since both sides of the road have four lanes.

Repair work will involve both sides of the 29-meter-wide avenue.

Work will start in front of the CPA until 13 meters after the intersection of the CICC.

The contractor would work on the inner lanes first, followed by the second lanes, third and the outer lanes last.

Lumapas  said he would ask for more Mandaue City traffic enforcers in the area especially during the the Nov. 30 thanksgiving Mass of  Saint Pedro Calungsod at the South Road Properties when thousands of pilgrims and visitors are expected to come to Cebu City./Correspondent Fe Marie Dumaboc