EXPECT heavy traffic on Osme?a Blvd. and nearby roads starting noon tomorrow when Cebu City hosts the fight of Filipino boxing superstar Nonito Donaire Jr. and former Olympian Zsolt Bedak.
The international championship fight will be held at the Cebu City Sports Center (CCSC) at 5 p.m.
Unless they are watching the fight or have urgent business on Osme?a Blvd., Cebu City Transportation Office (CCTO) operations chief Jonathan Tumulak urged motorists to avoid the area and find other routes.
He said they expect a big turnout of spectators at the fight since tickets are sold cheap.
Donaire Jr., 33, will defend his World Boxing Organization (WBO) super bantamweight title against Bedak in the main event co-promoted by ALA Promotions and Top Rank.
Tumulak clarified that Osme?a Blvd. will still be passable to vehicles but if the crowd gets bigger, they will close the downtown-bound lane of the road, starting from the corner of R. Landon St. to P. del Rosario St.
Drivers of private vehicles bound for downtown area will be asked to turn left to R. Landon St. and right to Junquera St., while public utility jeepneys will be diverted to V. Rama Ave.
If a larger area of Osme?a Blvd. gets congested, the CCTO may also close Arlington Pond, so drivers will have to take F. Ramos St. instead.
Tumulak said the organizers are expecting some 15,000 people to watch the fight.
CCTO has expected heavier than the usual traffic situation in the area since parking of vehicles on both sides of the road will be allowed.
Parking is allowed on Osme?a Blvd., from CCSC to Fuente Osme?a near the regional office of Department of Health, and on Pelaez St. Extension or the road between the Police Regional Office 7 and Cebu Normal University.
The traffic office, however, will strictly implement the no parking rule within a six-meter distance from different intersections on Osme?a Blvd., and near the gates of CCSC.
A towing truck will be on standby near the venue to tow vehicles that will double park on the side of the roads and those that will park outside designated parking areas.
Around 60 personnel will be deployed to Osme?a Blvd. starting at 1 p.m., and also to F. Ramos St. Junquera St., R. Landon St., and on the portion of N. Bacalso Ave., near the back gate of CCSC.
No vendors will also be allowed within the premises of CCSC starting this afternoon.
