CCLEX officially opens to motoring public

CEBU, Philippines —  The wait is over as the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX) opened finally to the motoring public yesterday, except for the bike and pedestrian lanes which are still under construction.

As the CCLEX starts operations, the motoring public is asked to drive at a maximum speed of 60 kph.

The CCLEX is designed for a maximum speed of up to 80 kph but the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway Corporation (CCLEC) is implementing a 60 kph limit during initial operations as part of safety measures since motorists are still not familiar with the expressway.

Motorists are also reminded not to stop at any area in the entire stretch of the expressway.

Cash payments are accepted in the meantime and motorists are advised to prepare for the exact toll fee as follows: Class I or below seven feet in height including cars, jeepneys, pick-ups, vans, and motorcycles 400cc above motorcycles, P90; Class II or those vehicles above 7 feet in height (except when the top load is recreational equipment such as bikes, surfboards, and the like light trucks, tourist/school and public utility buses, P180; Class III or heavy and multi-axle trucks and trailers, P270.

The toll rates were approved by the Local Toll Regulatory Council (LTRC).

Motorcycles below 400 cc can use the CCLEX beginning July as CCLEC is yet to come up with some safety measures for lower engine displacement as well as the toll fee rates for them.

The designated lane for cyclists and pedestrians, on the other hand, is also expected to open in July.

“We are happy and excited to finally welcome motorists to CCLEX, the new icon of Cebu,” said (CCLEC) President and General Manager Allan Alfon in a press statement yesterday.

CCLEX is a toll expressway that will use an all-electronic toll collection system with its full electronic toll collection implemented by June 2022.

“We invite motorists in Cebu to have their vehicles installed with CCLEX RFID to be able to use the expressway. Have your units installed with a CCLEX RFID now while it is still free,” Alfon said.

Those who want to schedule their registration can sign up using the online form mptc.outsystemsenterprise.com/ORRAS/ or go to cclex.com.ph.

The country’s longest bridge at 8.9-kilometer was inaugurated last April 27 with no less than President Rodrigo Duterte and Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation Chairman Manuel V. Pangilinan leading the ceremonies.

The expressway is a project of the CCLEC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the MPTC, in partnership with the Municipality of Cordova and City of Cebu. It is seen to not only ease traffic congestion in the metro but also spark socio-economic development in the province, according to a study by the University of San Carlos as well as by the different sectors here. — JMD (FREEMAN)