The picturesque island of Cebu in the Philippines is not only renowned for its natural beauty but also for its progressive approach towards infrastructure development.
Iconic shot of CCLEX showing Cebu City in the background |
One of the most ambitious projects that has captured the attention of locals and travelers alike is the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway, or CCLEX. This remarkable engineering feat promises to redefine the way people travel and connect within Cebu and its neighboring areas.
In 2021, the bridge played a role in that year's Quincentennial Commemorations in the Philippines. As part of the commemorations, eight ecumenical "Iconic Crosses" were placed on the two main pylons of the bridge. The crosses were lighted on April 15, 2021.
Initially, cash transactions were the norm for toll payments. However, a significant development occurred on July 2, 2022, when an electronic toll collection (ETC) system was successfully implemented, streamlining the payment process for commuters.
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About CCLEX
A monumental project that makes use of the latest engineering feats, the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX) has become Cebu’s newest icon and a driver of the local economy.
Spanning 8.9 kilometers, CCLEX links mainland Cebu in Cebu City to Mactan Island through the municipality of Cordova.
The artistically designed CCLEX has two lanes in each direction and on and off ramps connecting the main bridge to the Cebu South Coastal Road (CSCR) as well as a viaduct that levels down to a causeway in Cordova’s Barangay Pilipog.
With a navigational clearance of 51 meters for shipping traffic and design speed of 80-90 kilometers per hour (kph), the toll expressway is designed to serve at least 50,000 vehicles daily.
CCLEX is one of the largest infrastructure projects in the country. It is managed by the Cebu Cordova Link Expressway Corporation (CCLEC) under a joint venture agreement with the City of Cebu and Municipality of Cordova.
CCLEC is a subsidiary company of the Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC), the toll road arm of Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC), a publicly listed infrastructure holding company that forms part of the MVP Group of Companies. MPTC is the largest toll road concessionaire and operator in the Philippines.
On April 15, 2016, MPTC entered into a joint venture agreement with the local government units of Cebu and Cordova for the implementation of the toll expressway project and creation of the Cebu Cordova Link Expressway Corporation to oversee it.
This was followed by a concession agreement dated October 3, 2016 giving CCLEC the exclusive right and authority to undertake the financing, design, construction, operation, and maintenance of CCLEX for a period of 35 years.
The toll expressway will be turned over to the City of Cebu and Municipality of Cordova at the end of the concession period.
CCLEX is just the first of several toll road expansion projects envisioned by MPTC in the Visayas and Mindanao.
MPTC currently operates the 84-kilometer North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), 94-kilometer Subic Clark Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) and the 14-kilometer Cavite Expressway. It additionally has three toll concessions currently under construction, namely the 45-kilometer Cavite Laguna Expressway (CALAX) and the 8-kilometer NLEX-SLEX Connector Road.
CCLEX Construction and Opening
The groundbreaking ceremony for the Cebu–Cordova Bridge was held on March 2, 2017. The expressway was the first venture of MPTDC in the Philippines outside of Luzon.
In 2021, the bridge played a role in that year's Quincentennial Commemorations in the Philippines. As part of the commemorations, eight ecumenical "Iconic Crosses" were placed on the two main pylons of the bridge. The crosses were lighted on April 15, 2021.
Final connection of the main deck |
The final concrete pouring in the main bridge deck was held on October 5, 2021, effectively completing the main bridge deck.
The bridge was inaugurated by then-Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte on April 27, 2022, coinciding with the 501st anniversary of the Battle of Mactan. It is the first expressway and toll road in the Philippines outside of Luzon. It formally opened to motorists three days later, on April 30, 2022.
CCLEX Toll
The expressway operates on a fixed toll system, utilizing a barrier toll setup where motorists pay a predetermined toll fee based on their vehicle classification. The toll plaza is strategically positioned on an artificial island right after the main bridge, serving as the sole toll collection point for the entire expressway.
CCLEX Toll Plaza |
Initially, cash transactions were the norm for toll payments. However, a significant development occurred on July 2, 2022, when an electronic toll collection (ETC) system was successfully implemented, streamlining the payment process for commuters.
Below are the toll rates applicable on this expressway:
- Class 1M (Motorcycles with engine 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
These toll rates are designed to accommodate various vehicle types, ensuring a fair and standardized toll fee structure for all travelers using the expressway.
ATTRACTIONS TO SEE IN MANILA
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There are proposals for extensions of the expressway in a bid to increase traffic. In 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 will provide a direct connection from Cebu City's central business districts to the CCLEX.
In the Mactan side, the expressway terminates near the barangays of Pilipog and Ibabao (both in Cordova), intersects the Babag II Road of Barangay Babag (in Lapu-Lapu City). From here, an extension is proposed through Lapu-Lapu City and a possible direct connection to Mactan–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.
CCLEX is also eyed to be connected to the proposed Cebu–Bohol Bridge.
OTHER TOLLWAY / EXPRESSWAY IN PH
- North Luzon Expressway (NLEX)
- South Luzon Expressway (SLEX)
- Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX)
- Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEX)
- Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (STAR)
- Manila-Cavite Expressway (CAVITEX)
- Ninoy Aquino International Airport Expressway (NAIAX)
- Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAX)
- Central Luzon Link Expressway (CLLEX)
- Quezon-Bicol Expressway (QueBEx)
ACTIVITIES AND TOURS IN MANILA
OTHER TRANSPORTATION INFO IN PH
- List of Bus Terminals in the Philippines
- Metro Manila Bus Transit Map
- List of Ferry Operators in the Philippines
- List of Airlines in the Philippines
- List of Airports in the Philippines
- List of Railways and Metro Rail Lines in the Philippines
- List of Major Roads in Metro Manila
- List of Expressways and Tollways in the Philippines
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