Bridge repairs making way for Kadaugan activities

CEBU, Philippines - The contractor of the repair works at the Marcelo Fernan Bridge has granted the request of the Lapu-Lapu City government to temporarily cease operations on April 26 and 27. This is to give convenience to motorists who will be affected by traffic congestion during the celebration of the 492nd anniversary of the Battle of Mactan.

Frank Brazil, chief of the traffic division of Lapu-Lapu City, made the appeal to PLD Construction during the meeting of the Metro Cebu Bridge Management Board at the Capitol last Friday.

Brazil told the body that during those dates, the whole stretch from Marcelo Fernan Bridge to the Mandaue-Mactan Bridge which is M.L. Quezon Highway shall be closed for traffic for the Kadaugan street party.

A lot of events will also be held, including variety shows and discos.

Brazil said that they will be deploying 40 traffic enforcers to man traffic during that time.

Engineer Paul Dy, operations manager of the PLD Construction, has also reduced maintenance work hours on the bridge from 24 hours to eight hours or from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.

“There will be a little bit of extension but we assure that we will finish it at the fastest possible time with quality,” Dy told reporters.

Dy also requested Brazil for exemption from the truck ban to fast track the repair, which was also granted.

The bridge is undergoing asphalting and repair of its expansion joints which is estimated to cost some P27 million.

Since repair works began, traffic at the Marcelo Fernan Bridge was reportedly light.

PLD Construction attributed the smooth flow of traffic to a well-planned repair, focusing on one lane at a time.  The bridge has four lanes.  —/BRP (FREEMAN)