Road closures on Sunday for Ironman 70.3 Lapu-Lapu

CEBU, Philippines — Despite differences in principle with the executives of the neighboring local government units, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama remains a good sport by supporting Lapu-Lapu City government’s hosting of the Ironman 70.3 Lapu-Lapu on Sunday.

Rama allowed some portions of the South Road Properties (SRP) to be closed for the staging of the famous triathlon event. The action, particularly the bike part, will be passing the SRP until the boundary of Cebu City and Talisay.

The city’s Road Management Authority (Cebu City Transportation Office) yesterday announced that full road closure will be implemented at the Cebu South Coastal road from Plaza Independecia until Il-Curso. Among the areas that will be closed include a portion of MJ Cuenco avenue and MC Briones, the National Museum, and the access road at Puso Village and a portion of Vestil street in Mambaling.

RMA is also plotting an alternative route for those going to SM Seaside City, NuStar and Il Curso and other establishments at the SRP.

RMA anticipates that cyclists will be at the SRP by 7 am but roads will already be closed two hours before until around noontime. Aside from the city’s traffic group, the Cebu City government is also deploying medical and disaster team to ensure safety of the participants especially with the high heat index aside from being a very demanding sport itself.

CCLEX has also announced the closure of the country’s longest bridge to motorists, non-participating bikers, and pedestrians on Sunday from 3 am to 12 noon. Everyone has been advised to plan their trips ahead as well as check for alternative routes.

For the municipality of Cordova, full road closure will be from 4 am to 12 pm.

Vehicles coming from Barangay Gabi, Cordova are advised to make a left turn to Cordova Pilipog- Gabi Coastal Road exit to Babag road in Lapu-Lapu City.

There will be no access to Marigondon, Lapu-Lapu City during the bike course and no parking allowed on both sides at Pilipog- Gabi Coastal road.

Vehicles from Pilipog-Gabi Coastal Road may exit to Babag Road, while K. Dagami Highway/CCLEX Intersection will implement a “stop and go” system to vehicular traffic.

In Lapu-Lapu, roads from Newtown Boulevard to Mactan Junction (Traffic Light) towards Marigondon all the way down to Suba-Panas and to Lapu-Lapu City-Cordova boundary will be closed from 4 am to 12 pm. Roads from Mactan Newtown to Punta Engano will also be closed.

All roads that intersect and cross the abovementioned roads in Lapu-Lapu will also be affected.

“All motorists, especially those who have flights to catch are advised to leave as early as possible during event day before the road closure time at 4 am …All motorists are advised to take any available alternative route during the event,” the traffic advisory reads. — (FREEMAN)