Cebu-Cordova bridge construction on track

CEBU, Philippines — About two years before its target completion, progress of the construction of Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEx) is on track.

Allan Alfon, president of Cebu-Cordova Link Corp. (CCLEC), a unit of infrastructure giant Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC), said the company is looking to achieve not less than 20% in construction progress this year.

"Based on actual constriction, we are now at 9%," Alfon said when asked on the construction progress of CCLEx, the third bridge that will link mainland Cebu to Mactan Island via Cordova town.

Actual construction of the project started July last year.

CCLEC had said all 21 piles of the main bridge’s Tower 2 have been completed, while 17 out of 21 piles at the Tower 1 have been erected. Piling works for other project components such as the Cebu South Coastal Road on-ramp and viaduct are underway, it had added.

MPIC's tollways arm Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) had secured a P19-billion syndicated loan facility with six local banks for the construction of the CCLEx.

Under a concession with the local governments of Cebu City and Cordova, CCLEC will construct, own and operate the 8.5-kilometer toll bridge project with a total project cost of about P30 billion.

MPTC said the remaining funding requirements would be shouldered by the project company.

Once completed in 2021, the CCLEX is expected to cater to an estimated 50,000 vehicles that will significantly reduce traffic congestion at the existing two bridges connecting Mactan and mainland Cebu.

The construction and engineering consortium formed by the Consunji, Lopez and Spain-based Acciona Construccion S.A. bagged the design and build contract for this bridge. CCLEC has issued the notice of award to Cebu Link Joint Venture at an agreed contract amount of P22.6 billion.