For bridge construction work: Viaduct lane closure sought

CEBU, Philippines —  The Cebu Link Joint Venture (CLJV), contractor of the Cebu Cordova Link Expressway, is asking the Cebu City government to close the northbound lane of the Cebu South Coastal Road viaduct for six hours a day.

In an October 3 letter, Julio Ruiz Cabrero of CLJV requested the city to reroute the northbound vehicles to the viaduct’s u-turn slot heading to the Mambaling Access Road going to the city proper from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.

“We humbly hope that this request will be granted allowing us to improve our efficiency in the construction of the CCLEX Project,” reads a portion of the letter to Mayor Tomas Osmeña.

It was last July 5 when CLJV, a consortium of Spain-based Acciona Construccion S. A. and Philippines-based First Balfour Inc. and D.M. Consunji Inc., started the civil works on the CCLEX project.

The CCLEX project, an 8.25-kilometer bridge, will have two lanes in each direction and will feature a main navigation span bridge, along with viaduct approach bridges, a causeway, roadway, and toll facilities.

Cabrero said the construction of the bridge is ongoing and drilling of piles and concreting works are underway.

He said that there is a study for the CCLEX traffic management plan by SENER, a Spain-based consultant in collaboration with a local firm, Filipinas Dravo Corporation.

The study, he said, indicated that the northbound traffic volume at the CSCR viaduct is about half the capacity of one lane road from 10:30 p.m. to 6 a.m. while the southbound traffic volume is one lane capacity at the same time from 10:30 p.m. to 6 a.m.

“However, operating one side of the viaduct into a two-way traffic flow is not recommended for safety consideration,” he added.

Because of this, he asked the city to reroute the northbound vehicles to Vestil Street from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.

Southbound vehicles, meanwhile, will continue to use the same lane at the viaduct.

“As to the structural soundness of the CSCR viaduct during concreting operation, a separate request was made and addressed to the DPWH VII Regional office regarding the matter and was granted by the DPWH VII Regional Director,” he added.

The City Council approved CLJV’s request during its session on October 16. It also directed CLJV to publish the rerouting plan for the benefit of motorists.

Francisco Ouano, chief of the Cebu City Transportation Operations Office, said he is yet to receive a copy of the CLJV letter.

Ouano said he will meet the officials of the contractor to discuss the matter, considering that the Cebu South Coastal Road is the alternative route for motorists that are supposed to use Natalio Bacalso Avenue where an underpass project is being constructed.

“Himoan gyud na namo og plano before mo-decide, although nindot na ilang plano nga gabii hangtod kadlawn, pero tan-awn nato ang sitwasyon ug ang pros and cons,” Ouano told The FREEMAN.

The CCLEX is expected to be completed by 2021 in time for the celebration of 500th anniversary of the birth of Christianity in the country. — JMO (FREEMAN)