THE Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) will deploy 108 personnel to man the traffic during the Ironman 70.3 Philippines on Sunday, August 7, 2022.

CCTO executive director Paul Gotiong told SunStar Cebu Thursday, August 4, 2022, that the traffic personnel will be deployed along the bike race route on the Cebu South Coastal Road (CSCR).

Road closure and diversions will also be implemented from 5 a.m. until the last participant of the bike leg will finish the race.

Gotiong said that affected roads should be opened around 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.

The CCTO personnel will be manning the affected roads to guide motorists and control the flow of traffic during the event, he added.

The entire northbound and southbound lane of the CSCR will be closed to all vehicles. Motorists heading north should take Laray Road.

Meanwhile, all vehicles from Cebu City that are bound to Nustar Resort and Casino, Il Corso, and City di Mare may take F. Vestil Road and then right turn to Bagsakan or Service Road.

Gotiong asked motorists for patience and to plan their travels ahead of time to avoid further inconvenience due to the road closures.

"To all motorists, especially those traversing from south to the city, please bear with us. The road closures and traffic rerouting is for the safety of all. The Ironman 70.3 event happens once a year and plays a vital role for Cebu, promoting tourism and business," said Gotiong.

Since the participants of the race will traverse through the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway for the first time, Gotiong said that this year's Ironman will give CCTO a lesser coverage area compared to previous events.

Gotiong added that there are no designated areas for spectators but people can stay on the sidewalks along the race route and no crossing is allowed for safety purposes.

After a two-year break because of the pandemic, organizers of the event expect thousands of endurance athletes to join the sporting event which features swimming, biking, and marathon running. (IRT)