ROAD repairs in six areas in Mandaue City have been suspended until September in preparation for the Ironman triathlon and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) Summit.

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 7 Director Ador Canlas ordered the work suspension in areas that will be used during the two activities.

Renult Ricardo, acting assistant district engineer of the DPWH sixth district engineering office, said that areas affected are: A.C. Cortes Ave., Plaridel St., U.N. Ave., Ouano Ave. going to Radisson Blue Hotel in Cebu City, A.S. Fortuna St. and M.L. Quezon St.

The suspension of the road works started yesterday.

During a press conference in Mandaue, Ricardo said that the contractors of the road repairs have been notified.

The work suspension would push back the completion of the projects by three months, he said.

In preparation for the Ironman and the Apec, stockpiles and heavy equipment will be removed from the sites.

The triathlon will be held on Aug. 2.

Apec summit meetings will be conducted in Cebu on Aug. 24, Sept. 11, Oct. 8 to 10, and Oct. 12 to 13.

Foreign delegation

About 3,200 foreign delegates are expected to attend the meetings, which will be held at the Marco Polo Plaza and Radisson Blu Hotel in Cebu City, and at the Shangri-la Mactan Resort and Spa in Lapu-Lapu City.

During a press conference, Ricardo said that the road projects were scheduled for 2014 but construction extended to 2015.

“Road repairs like in M.L. Quezon St. and A.S. Fortuna may seem never-ending. That’s because there is a series of funding. Some of the funds come from loans so we should not delay the road work (to prevent paying higher) interest,” he said.

He said that some projects are delayed because of the need to coordinate with private utilities to avoid damaging pipelines and electrical wires.