THE City Traffic Management System (CTMS) of Lapu-Lapu and Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue (Team) are expecting heavy traffic on Tuesday as classes and work, with the ongoing repair works on the Mandaue-Mactan Bridge.
When the repair started yesterday, traffic was light because it was a holiday. Traffic thickened in the afternoon, though.
The Traffic Management Unit (TMU) of the Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) will deploy 10 traffic policemen to help Team.
Senior Supt. Jonathan Cabal, officer-in-charge of MCPO, instructed his men to assist Team.
Chief Insp. Noel Lomente, head of TMU, said the traffic policemen will be deployed along U.N. Ave. corner D.M. Cortes St. (formerly Plaridel St.) and A.C. Cortes Ave.
The contractor of the Mandaue-Mactan Bridge, also known as the first bridge, started the repair yesterday.
The Department of Public Works and Highways is spending P129 million for the rehabilitation.
Due to the repair, only vehicles coming from Mandaue going to Lapu-Lapu can use the bridge.
Vehicles coming from Lapu-Lapu going to Mandaue should pass through Marcelo B. Fernan Bridge.
Glenn Antigua, chief for operations of Team, said traffic congestion was not experienced in the morning yesterday because there were no classes and work due to the celebration of the Chinese New Year.
Team noticed that more vehicles on U.N. Ave. passed through Marcelo Fernan Bridge going to Lapu-Lapu.
Antigua said there was just a slight confusion on the part of the drivers because they thought that Lapu-Lapu to Mandaue vehicles can pass the first bridge, based on what was reported earlier.
Traffic was also light in Lapu-Lapu due to the special holiday.
However, Frank Brazil, chief of CTMS, said traffic began to build up after noontime, affecting especially those vehicles coming from Lapu-Lapu going to Mandaue crossing the Marcelo Fernan Bridge.
Vehicles coming from Lapu-Lapu did not have a choice if they want to go to Mandaue City, except to pass through Marcelo Fernan Bridge.
The traffic lasted until past 5 p.m.
Brazil said traffic on M.L. Quezon Highway reached up to the City Hall of Lapu-Lapu.
On the other side of the highway, traffic reached up to the Pusok Barangay Hall.
M.L. Quezon Highway is a road connected to Marcelo Fernan Bridge.
On the Mandaue City side, U.N. Ave., which is connected to Marcelo Fernan Bridge, was congested yesterday because road works were ongoing on D.M. Cortes St.
“Kung free-flowing lang ang Mandaue wa may problema. Magdepende atong sitwasyon kung unsay sitwasyon sa (If Mandaue’s traffic is free flowing, there won’t be a problem. Our traffic situation depends on the traffic situation of) Mandaue,” Brazil said.
He said a diversion road, which is the Matumbo Road, will be opened to traffic, once traffic congestion is experienced on M.L. Quezon.
In Mandaue, Antigua said there are still alternate routes for vehicles going to Cebu City.
Since roadwork is ongoing on D.M. Cortes St., Antigua said Cebu City-bound vehicles coming from U.N. Ave. turning to D.M. Cortes St. may pass Burgos St.
Vehicles avoiding D.M. Cortes may pass A.C. Cortes Ave. then turn left to B.B. Cabahug St. going to Cebu City.