P30-B Cebu-Cordova expressway project declared 61% complete
By Arjay L. Balinbin
THE P30-billion Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX) bridge project is now 61% complete, Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) said.
The overall engineering, procurement and construction progress rate of CCLEX, one of the country’s largest infrastructure projects which is expected to ease worsening congestion in Metro Cebu, is at 61%, while construction progress alone is 48%, MPTC said in a statement.
Cebu Cordova Link Expressway Corp. (CCLEC) President and General-Manager Allan G. Alfon said the project is set to be “nearing substantial completion in 2021.”
CCLEC is a subsidiary of MPTC. It is undertaking the bridge project under a joint venture agreement with Cebu City and Cordova, a municipality to the south of Mactan.
“Despite the challenges posed by COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019), 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,” he said.
The bridge was originally scheduled to open to coincide with the 500th anniversary of the Magellan expedition’s arrival in March 2021.
The toll bridge project is expected to be used by around 50,000 vehicles daily.
The project aims to connect Cebu City to Mactan Island through Cordova, which is connected by bridge to Mactan.
MPTC said the bridge, once completed, will ease congestion on Marcelo Fernan Bridge and the Mandaue-Mactan Bridge, which both connect Mactan with Cebu Island.
The company expects the project to “spur trade activities and open greater economic opportunities for Cebu and the rest of the Visayas region.”
MPTC is the tollways arm of Metro Pacific Investments Corporation, one of the three key Philippine units of Hong Kong-based First Pacific Co. Ltd., the others being Philex Mining Corp. and PLDT, Inc.
Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., has a majority stake in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group, which it controls.
Source: Business World