CEBU CITY, Cebu, July 16 (PIA) -- The Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX), also known as the Cebu-Cordova Bridge spanning approximately 8.6 kilometers, is set to be completed by the end of this year.
Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Sec. Mark Villar announced during the site inspection on July 15 that the toll bridge expressway will be operational by March next year.
During the site inspection, Villar was joined by Presidential Communications Operations Office Sec. Martin Andanar, Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation Spokesperson Romulo Quimbo, and CCLEX Corporation President and General Manager Allan Alfon.
The P30 billion project is already 80% completed, based on the update given by the DPWH.
On July 15, CCLEX announced on their Facebook page there is only one span left before the Cordova viaduct will be connected to the CCLEX main bridge.
Once the final six girders will be positioned, construction of the deck will follow and the Cordova viaduct will be structurally complete.
CCLEX is a toll expressway that will be using an all-electronic toll system to enable faster traffic flow and seamless travel.
Villar said this will be the longest bridge-way structure in the country.
It crosses the Mactan Channel that links Cebu City to Cordova town.
It caters mostly to motorists from the south of Cebu crossing to Cordova or Lapu-lapu City, especially going to the Mactan Cebu International Airport.
The bridge will strengthen the carrying capacity of the network of roads in Mega Cebu, as well as address traffic congestion.
It is expected to serve at least 40,000 vehicles daily and sustain linkage between Cebu and Mactan islands.
Villar added that the near completion of the said bridge shows how active the government’s “Build, Build, Build” program is.
Construction started on Jan. 8, 2018 with 1,435 days and will be completed on Dec. 12, 2021 with the budget allocation of nearly P25 billion.
This project is a public-private partnership between the national government and the local government units of Cebu City and Cordova and the Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation.
In a Facebook post, CCLEX cited that DPWH has widened roads in Mactan to complement the Cebu-Cordova Bridge, such as the Mactan Circumferential Road, particularly in Babag 2, Lapu-Lapu City, and Brgy. Pilipog in Cordova.
“We are happy to show to Secretary Mark Villar the CCLEX project now, three years after we started its civil works during the First Piling Works Ceremony with him. This is also an opportunity for us to thank DPWH for being a partner by assisting us during construction, particularly with regards to safety at the CSCR and ensuring better access to and from CCLEX at the Mactan side,” said Alfon. (HFG/PIA7 with reports from CCLEX)
