12-hour Osmeña Blvd closure set

CEBU, Philippines - A traffic dry run would be held on Osmeña Boulevard on November 23 in preparation for the 2016 International Eucharistic Congress.

The thoroughfare would be closed for 12 hours the Cebu City Traffic Operations Management is asking for the cooperation of motorists.

The dry run was set to coincide with the “Christ the King” solemn procession, a vital part of all liturgical activities during the closing of the Year of Faith, the launching of IEC. The procession is also meant to show solidarity with the victims of last year’s calamities.

CITOM Operations Officer Joy Tumulak said the Archdiocesan liturgical activity is expected to gather at least 50,000 people similar to the number that trooped to the South Road Properties during the national thanksgiving mass celebrating the canonization of Saint Pedro Calungsod last year.

Tumulak said the whole stretch of Osmeña Boulevard will be closed for the solemn procession from 10 a.m. and will be reopened only at 10 p.m.  A Eucharistic mass will be celebrated in front of the Capitol building prior to the procession.

“Ang tibuok dalan sa Osmena Boulevard, Colon, D. Jakosalem and M.C. Briones will be closed. There is also a big possibility that intersections within the route will be closed. Lapad-lapad ang road closure nato kay we expect gikan Fuente Rotunda up to Capitol mapuno og tawo,” he said.

From Osmeña Boulevard, the procession would turn left to Colon Street, right to D. Jakosalem Street, then left to M.C. Briones Street before going to Plaza Independencia.

North-bound motorists are advised to access the Cebu South Coastal Road Tunnel, while vehicles from Talamban or Ayala using Escario Street can use the Capitol access road. The Archdiocese of Cebu is yet to request the provincial government for the road access.

Vendors are advised not to sell balloons along the procession route while attendees are encouraged not to bring any as the balloons could endanger participants when they are accidentally released and short-circuit the overhead wires.

Meanwhile, all types of vehicles can now pass S. Osmeña Boulevard from the corner Arcadio Maxilom Avenue and the corner J. Luna Street upon the completion of the road concreting project yesterday. — (FREEMAN)