Marcelo Fernan Bridge
Repairs on the Marcelo Fernan Bridge will not proceed; the schedule will have to wait until after the last meeting of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) on Oct. 14.
Regional Director Ador Canlas of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH-7), said his office cannot start any major project at the very “critical period.”
Earlier, a DPWH representative said during last Wednesday’s meeting of the Mactan Cebu Bridge Management Board at the Capitol, that the Fernan bridge will be closed so crews can replace its rubber expansion joints at a cost of P30 million.
The repairs were supposed to start next week and were expected to be completed in a month, but Canlas said the project will not push through.
“Why would we start a project at this very critical period? Closing the bridge will worsen the traffic in the area. People will curse me for that,” he told Cebu Daily News by phone yesterday.
Meetings
Cebu will host two major events in a span of three months, starting August.
On August 2, triathletes from all over the world are expected to participate in the Cobra Ironman 70.3.
The Fernan Bridge is part of the Ironman’s cycling race route.
From Aug. 22 until October 14, 3,200 delegates of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit are expected to come in and out of Cebu for several meetings.
The bridge repairs were supposed to be done in time for the APEC meetings.
No problem
But with two big events lined up next month, the regional director said it is not practical to start a project and aim to finish it in four weeks.
“The bridge, as it is now, does not have any problem,” he said.
Canlas said the repairs were meant to improve the bridge’s road surface and replace the old expansion joints with new ones.
He said Engr. Eda de Guzman, maintenance engineer of the DPWH’s 6th Engineering District Office who attended the MCBMB meeting, didn’t have the authority to make the announcement.
Engr. Canlas said he discussed the matter with District Engineer Suzette Nwanaka.
Fast track
DPWH directed all telecommunication companies and utilities to halt their excavation projects.
“It will take them a long time to backfill and clear the area along the roads. That’s why we made sure they stopped their operations,” Canlas said.
He said ongoing road projects will not be suspended contrary to what was previously announced.
Canlas said projects that may not be finished by the staging of the Ironman 70.3 should not have started in the first place.
In an earlier report, Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III requested DPWH to complete all its road projects in time for the APEC hosting.
Rerouting
Engr. Perla Amar, planning officer of the Lapu-Lapu City government said there are no changes on the route of the triathlon.
Glenn Antigua, acting chief of the Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue (TEAM) said four roads in Mandaue City will be used by the triathletes: UN Ave., whole street of Plaridel, A. Soriano St. and Ouano Ave. They will close off the roads from 4 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Antigua said they still have to identify the alternative roads for rerouting on that day since they are waiting on the Mandaue City Council to pass a resolution for this purpose.
The DPWH said it will finish the concreting of the inner lanes from corner UN Avenue up to corner A.C. Cortes Avenue before the Cobra Ironman 70.3 2015 Philippines on Aug. 22.
Antigua said they will deploy more traffic personnel along UN Avenue, Plaridel St. and Ouano Avenue for the Ironman event. /With Correspondents Melissa Q. Cabahug and Norman V. Mendoza