Motorists endure six-hour traffic congestion

M.L. Quezon Highway in Lapu-Lapu City was clogged with vehicles affected by the traffic congestion in Mandaue City. (CDN Photo/Norman Mendoza)

Motorists and commuters of the cities of Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu endured six hours of traffic congestion yesterday after they were caught unaware with an experimental traffic rerouting scheme enforced in Mandaue City.

Traffic officials in both cities said the motorists and commuters avoided passing through the Mandaue-Mactan Bridge thinking it was closed for repairs that day.

Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Paz Radaza clarified that the Mandaue-Mactan ridge will be closed for repairs from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. the following day everyday until August this year.

Glenn Antigua, operations chief of the Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue (TEAM), said their traffic scheme barred vehicles from UN Avenue to turn left to Burgos Street.

Some vehicles from Lapu-Lapu City which headed to Burgos Street to avoid traffic at Plaridel Street were caught unaware by the “no left turn” policy imposed by TEAM.

This resulted in traffic congestion along UN Avenue coming from Marcelo Fernan Bridge as motorists were forced to pass through MC Briones Highway which was already clogged with vehicles.

Frank Brazil, head of the City Traffic Management System (CTMS) of Lapu-Lapu City, said last Monday’s closure of the Mandaue-Mactan Bridge led motorists into thinking that the bridge was also closed for the day.

Last Monday’s closure of the bridge was caused by a malfunctioning scraper that had to be towed out of the lanes intended for the motorists.