CEBU CITY, July 16 (PNA) — Organizers have advised Cebuanos to brace for heavy traffic during the Cobra Ironman 70.3, which will be held in Lapu-Lapu City on Aug. 2.
The event, hosted by Lapu-Lapu City, will have a 1.8-kilometer swim, 90-kilometer bike and 21-kilometer run.
The bike portion of the triathlon will cross the cities if Mandaue and Cebu and talisay and will require road closure to ensure the safety of the participants.
In Lapu-Lapu City, the road from GoldenBerry Hotel in Barangay Pusok up to Barangay Punta Engano will be closed from 5 a.m. to 2 p.m, while the Punta Engano side up to Amisa will be closed from 5 a.m. to 5 p.m.
In Mandaue City, motorists who want to go to Northern Cebu will have to avoid Plaridel St., as a portion of it will be used for the bike portion from 4 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Those who want to go to northern Cebu may take Lopez Jaenea and MC Briones, while those who want to go to Lapu-Lapu City may pass through Lopez Jaena, MC Briones and UN Avenue.
In Cebu City, the entire Sergio Osmena Boulevard will be closed from 5 a.m. to noon, while in Talisay City, the road from Talisay Fish Port to Bacaltos will be off limits to motorists from 5 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Senior Supt. Rey Lyndon Lawas of the Police Regional Office (PRO) 7 said they will issue traffic advisories in the coming days to guide motorists.
Lawas also said PRO 7 will deploy 1,000 police personnel to help secure the event, which has attracted 2,618 participants from 52 countries.
On the other hand, the organizers also said the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 7 has assured them they will stop road works for the Ironman.
“The DPWH has promised us that they will halt their ongoing construction and will continue it after the event. DPWH has also finished one lane in Plaridel St, which will be used for the bike portion of the event,” said Cobra Ironman project director Princess Galura.
Aside from the police personnel, the organizers have also added another medical team for the event.
Dr. Peter Mancao, the event’s medical director, said the team will be stationed at the South Road Properties in Cebu City.
They will also have ambulances, volunteer doctors and nurses along the route.
In 2013, one participant died after collapsing in the bike portion at the SRP, while last year, another had to be rushed to the hospital after a collision with a policeman. (PNA)