Cebu–Cordova Link Expressway  | |
|---|---|
 The bridge in July 2024 | |
| Coordinates | 10°16′54.044″N123°54′15.624″E / 10.28167889°N 123.90434000°E /10.28167889; 123.90434000 |
| Crosses | Mactan Channel |
| Locale | Metro Cebu |
| Official name | Cebu–Cordova Link Expressway |
| Other name(s) | Cebu–Cordova Bridge Third Cebu–Mactan Bridge Third Bridge |
| Owner | Cebu–Cordova Link Expressway Corporation |
| Maintained by | Cebu–Cordova Link Expressway Corporation |
| Website | cclex |
| Preceded by | Mandaue–Mactan Bridge |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Cable-stayed bridge |
| Total length | 8.9 km (5.5 mi) |
| Width | 27 m (89 ft) |
| Height | 145 m (476 ft) |
| Traversable? | Yes |
| Longest span | 390 m (1,280 ft) |
| Clearance below | 51 m (167 ft) |
| No. oflanes | 4 |
| History | |
| Architect | Dissing+Weitling Architecture – Conceptual Design |
| Designer | SENER Ingenieria y Sistemas & Carlos Fernandez Casado (SENER-CFCJV) |
| Engineering design by | SENER Ingenieria y Sistemas & Carlos Fernandez Casado (SENER-CFC JV) |
| Constructed by | Cebu Link Joint Venture (Acciona-First Balfour-DMCI JV) |
| Construction cost | ₱33 billion |
| Opened | April 30, 2022; 3 years ago (2022-04-30) |
| Inaugurated | April 27, 2022; 3 years ago (2022-04-27) |
| Statistics | |
| Daily traffic | at least 40,000 (projected) |
| Toll | SeeToll |
| Location | |
 Interactive map of Cebu–Cordova Link Expressway | |
| References | |
| [1][2][3] | |
TheCebu–Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX), also known as theCebu–Cordova Bridge and theThird Cebu–Mactan Bridge (or simply, theThird Bridge), is an 8.9-kilometer (5.5 mi)toll bridge expressway inMetro Cebu,Philippines. The bridge connects theSouth Road Properties inCebu City in mainland Cebu andCordova onMactan island. Crossing theMactan Channel, the bridge is the third road link between Cebu and Mactan islands and the first between Cebu City and Cordova. It is thelongest sea-crossing bridge in the Philippines, surpassing the 2-kilometer (1.2 mi)San Juanico Bridge betweenSamar andLeyte, as well asMarcelo Fernan Bridge (which also crosses the Mactan Channel) as the longest cable-stayed bridge in the Philippines. It also surpassed the 5-kilometer (3.1 mi)Candaba Viaduct ofNorth Luzon Expressway (NLEX) connecting the provinces ofPampanga andBulacan for being the longest bridge in the Philippines upon its completion on October 5, 2021.
The bridge was first proposed byCordova mayorAdelino Sitoy to connect his municipality and mainland Cebu inCebu City. In 2014, an unsolicited proposal was put forth byMetro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC) to build a bridge linking Cebu City and Cordova, which was then under review by a joint venture selection committee between the two local government units. After numerous studies were conducted, the local government units of Cordova and Cebu City entered into apublic-private partnership with Metro Pacific Tollways Development Corp. (MPTDC).[4][5] The construction of the Cebu–Cordova bridge was lobbied by then chairman of the Regional Development Council of Region VII,Michael Rama, who became Mayor of Cebu City when the Cebu–Cordova Bridge project was already awarded to a company.[6]
In January 2016,Cebu Cordova Link Expressway Corporation (CCLEC) signed an agreement on February 7 a₱19-billion loan and security bonds with six banks:Development Bank of the Philippines (DBP),Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC),Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI),Robinsons Bank Corporation,Union Bank of the Philippines, andSecurity Bank Corporation. CCLEC is a subsidiary ofMetro Pacific Tollways Development Corp. (MPTDC), which will fund the rest of the project through disclosure to thePhilippine Stock Exchange and by equity or supplemental capital loans from other private and interested parties who want to invest in this project and be one of the stockholders of the said bridge.
MPTDC announced that the construction of the bridge was to commence in 2017. The company, in the same announcement, said that they would be responsible for the construction and financing of the bridge, as well as its operation once completed.[6]
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The groundbreaking ceremony for the Cebu–Cordova Bridge was held on March 2, 2017. The expressway was MPTDC's first venture outside ofLuzon.[7]
In 2021, the bridge played a role in theQuincentennial Commemorations in the Philippines,[8] as eight ecumenical "Iconic Crosses" were placed near the tops of the two main pylons. The crosses were lighted on April 15, 2021.[9][10]
The final concrete pouring in the main bridge deck was held on October 5, 2021, effectively completing the main bridge deck.[11]
The bridge was inaugurated by then-Philippine PresidentRodrigo Duterte on April 27, 2022, coinciding with the 501st anniversary of theBattle of Mactan.[12] It is the firstexpressway andtoll road in the Philippines outside of Luzon.[13][14] It was formally opened to motorists three days later on April 30, 2022.[3]
CCLEX is managed by Cebu–Cordova Link Expressway Corporation (CCLEC), a subsidiary of Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC), a company of MVP Group of Companies.[5]
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The bridge spans 8.9 kilometers (5.5 mi) and is the longest and tallest in the Philippines, surpassing theSan Juanico Bridge, which crossesLeyte andSamar, and theCandaba Viaduct along theNorth Luzon Expressway. It was designed by the Spanish firms Carlos Fernandez Casado (CFC) and SENER Ingeniería y Sistemas, while the local firm DCCD Engineering Corporation and the Danish firm COWI are the owner's engineers. The bridge was built through a joint venture between Spanish firmAcciona and Philippine firms First Balfour andDMCI. ConnectingCebu City andCordova, the 27-meter-wide (89 ft) bridge is meant to serve an alternate route servingMactan–Cebu International Airport, capable of serving at least 40,000 vehicles daily.[8]
The 390-meter-long (1,280 ft) main span of the CCLEX is cable-stayed and is supported by 145-meter-high (476 ft) twin tower pylons. The design of the pylons was inspired by the historicMagellan's Cross Pavilion. The main span will have a 51-meter (167 ft)[1] navigation clearance, which allows ships to traverse the bridge. Viaduct approach bridges and acauseway will also form part of the CCLEX, as well as toll road facilities on anartificial island. The toll facilities' design is inspired by the eight-rayed sun of thePhilippine flag.[8]
The bridge expressway uses abarrier toll system, where motorists pay a fixed toll rate based on vehicle class. The toll plaza is located on an artificial island after the main bridge, serving as the only toll collection point of the expressway. Since its opening, cash has been used for toll collection. Anelectronic toll collection (ETC) system was implemented on July 2, 2022.[15]
The toll rates are as follows:
| Class | Amount[3] |
|---|---|
| Class 1M (Motorcycles withengine displacement from 110cc–399cc) | ₱60.00 |
| Class 1 (Cars, motorcycles 400cc and above, SUVs,jeepneys) | ₱90.00 |
| Class 1 above 7 feet (2.1 meters) (vehicles with recreational equipment) | ₱180.00 |
| Class 2 (Buses, light trucks) | ₱180.00 |
| Class 3 (Heavy trucks and trailers) | ₱270.00 |
| Pedestrians and Bicycles | ₱0 |
As of 2024[update], the CCLEX is traversed by 17,000 vehicles, lower than its 60,000 traffic capacity.[16] There are proposals to extend the expressway to increase vehicular traffic through the bridge. On the Cebu City side of the bridge, there is a proposal for an approximately 2 km (1.2 mi) long ramp that would straddle along the Guadalupe River. If completed, the expansion will cost an estimated₱1 billion and provide a direct connection from Cebu City's central business districts to the CCLEX. The groundbreaking of the ramp was held on November 8, 2022, and works are set to start by 2024.[17][18]
On the Mactan side, the expressway terminates near the barangays of Pilipog and Ibabao (both inCordova), intersecting the Babag II Road ofBarangay Babag (in Lapu-Lapu City). From here, an extension is proposed throughLapu-Lapu City and a possible direct connection toMactan–Cebu International Airport. The planned extension will add 5 to 8 kilometers (3.1 to 5.0 mi) to the expressway and is estimated to cost₱10 billion to₱15 billion.[19]
CCLEX is also eyed to be connected to the proposedCebu–Bohol Bridge.[20]
CCLEX had an original length of 8.5 kilometers, but they decided to extend this up to 8.9 kilometers or an extension before the entry from Cordova to Cebu City.
Media related toCebu–Cordova Link Expressway at Wikimedia Commons| Existing |
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See also:Philippine highway network | ||||||||||||||||
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