Construction of the P30-billion Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX) project is nearing completion with just 11 meters left before the gap of the main bridge deck is closed.
Cebu Cordova Link Expressway Corporation’s (CCLEC) contractor finished concreting the last section of the Tower 2 bridge deck on Thursday, September 2.
The remaining works on the main bridge are now only on two segments at Tower 1 and the final closing segment that will connect to Tower 2’s deck.
CCLEX’s twin pylon main bridge is targeted to be finished in early October 2021.
To start closing the gap, the form travelers of the CCLEX back spans on both Cebu City and Cordova sides will be removed first.
The form traveler in Tower 2 will be moved backward to allow the form traveler in Tower 1 to go forward so the needed rebar and concreting works for the gap will be done as well as the last stay cable installed.
All 28 stay cables of Tower 2 have already been completed. There are 14 stay cables on each side of the two pylons for a total of 56 stay cables on the main bridge holding the deck.
Meanwhile, the form traveler on the CCLEX main bridge deck will be the last to be detached, signaling the completion of the entire main bridge structure.
The two 500-ton form traveler on Towers 1 and 2 are equipment used to build the main bridge’s pier table and road deck.
CCLEX is eyed to be substantially completed by December 2021 and will open to motorists in the first quarter of 2022.
The 8.5-kilometer CCLEX will use a full electronic toll collection system to ensure a convenient and seamless travel for motorists.
As of July 30, 2021, construction progress of the toll bridge project stands at 82 percent.
CCLEX, highlighted by its iconic crosses on top of the twin pylons of the cable-stayed main bridge over the Mactan Channel, is Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation’s (MPTC) first toll road project outside Luzon.
CCLEX has a design speed of 80 kilometers per hour (kph) and a navigational clearance or height of 51 meters to allow large vessels to pass underneath the bridge.
Not only is CCLEX seen to reduce traffic and make traveling more convenient but also spur trade activities and open greater economic opportunities for Cebu and the rest of the Visayas region.
CCLEC is a wholly owned subsidiary of MPTC, the toll road arm of Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC), a publicly listed infrastructure holding company and a member of the MVP Group of Companies.
MPTC is the largest toll road concessionaire and operator in the Philippines, which expansion goals include establishing toll operations in the Visayas, other parts of the Philippines, and in neighboring countries notably Vietnam, and Indonesia.
