Heavy traffic in Mandaue City on weekend
The public is advised to expect heavy traffic in Mandaue City starting Friday because of two big events related to the Sinulog celebration.
Traffic Enforcement Agency of Mandaue (TEAM) chief of operations Glenn Antigua said the Traslacion is slated on January 19 and Lifedance 2018, an open ground event, will be held on January 20 at the old St. James Amusement Park across Parkmall.
Around 15,000 individuals are expected to grace the social event.
The vacant lot near Cebu Doctor's University is provided by the organizers of Lifedance as parking space since the city prohibits motorists from parking along the road.
Antigua, however, assured that enough personnel will be on duty.
"One hundred personnel will be deployed for first shift, another 100 for second shift and around 50 for third shift. We also have force multipliers who will help control the traffic," Antigua said.
TEAM is in close coordination with the Mandaue City Police Office (MCPO) in terms of peace and order measure as well as with the City Environment and Natural Resources Office (CENRO) for sanitary concerns.
For the traslacion which will start Friday dawn, the whole stretch of A.S Fortuna St. will be closed at 2 a.m.
From A.S. Fortuna Street, the holy icons of Sto. Niño and Our Lady of Guadalupe will proceed to A. Del Rosario Street (near Jollibee High-way) and will pass S.B. Cabahug Street then to the National Shrine of St. Joseph (NSSJ).
Both lanes of the Mandaue-Mactan Bridge will be closed at 2 a.m. until 4 a.m. on Jan. 20 to prepare for the transfer of the two icons to the Nuestra Señora Virgen de la Regla (NSVDR) in Lapu-Lapu City.
Spectators and devotees are advised not to release balloons during the Traslacion to avoid accidents. In the past, a transformer exploded when a balloon got entangled with the wires.
The Lapu-Lapu City government recently disclosed its traffic plan for the Traslacion and G.Y. Dela Cerna and P. Rodriguez streets in Barangay Poblacion surrounding the NSVDR will closed at 1:30 a.m. on January 20.
The city government also designated alternative routes and temporary drop off and pick-up points for passengers.