‘CCLEX on track for 2021 completion’

Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. said on Tuesday the construction of the P30-billion bridge expressway in Cebu is now 61-percent completed.

This development is marked by the installation of the stat cables that will hold the bridge deck and the installation of the cross top of the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX).

There will be 14 stay cables in each side of the main bridge’s 2 towers or a total of 56 that varies in length between 60 meters to 210 meters, all anchored on the pylon and the deck.

The cross, which will be luminous on 4 sides at night once finished, is 40 meters in height. The lighted cross symbolizes Cebu’s significant role as the cradle of Catholic devotion.

“CCLEX is set to be nearing substantial completion in 2021. Despite the challenges posed by Covid-19, we commit to continue working hard towards completing the project next year for the benefit of the Cebuanos. It is something we look forward to, given the current conditions,” said Cebu Cordova Link Expressway Corp. (CCLEC) President Allan Alfon.

Alfon notes that other works are also being simultaneously done on the other components and segments of the CCLEX project.

These include concreting of the bridge deck and Cebu South Coastal Road (CSCR) on ramp; construction of columns at CSCR off-ramp, Cebu viaduct, and Cordova viaduct; and piling works for the small bridges at the causeway that will serve as access of the fishermen to their fishing ground.  The toll bridge, an 8.5-kilometer stretch, is envisioned to have two lanes in each direction, and will feature the main navigation span bridge, along with viaduct approach bridges, a causeway, roadway and toll facilities.

The span of the bridge allows for shipping traffic and the link is expected to serve at least 50,000 vehicles daily. It will give Cordova direct access to Cebu City and is envisioned to decongest the traffic in the 2 existing bridges between Mactan and Cebu.  Aside from providing travel efficiency, the facility is seen to help spur economic growth and boost investments not just in Cebu City and Cordova Municipality, but also in the entire Cebu Province and Visayas Region.

The Cebu-Cordova Bridge is Metro Pacific’s first bridge project, and the first toll-related deal outside Metro Manila.

The tollroad company operates the North Luzon, Subic-Clark-Tarlac, Manila-Cavite Toll Expressways. It is also building the Cavite-Laguna Expressway.

The infrastructure group also has significant interests in thoroughfares outside the Philippines, namely in Thailand, Indonesia, and Vietnam.

This article was originally published by Business Mirror.