Paz: Include us in 3rd bridge plans

CEBU, Philippines – Mayor Paz Radaza has suggested that a representative from Lapu-Lapu City government be invited to meetings regarding future plans on the Cebu-Cordova bridge now that it formally broke grounds.

Since the city is adjacent to Cordova town, Radaza said she is concerned the construction might affect some roads and establishments, hence there’s a possibility of using Lapu-Lapu City roads as alternative thoroughfares while the bridge’s construction will be ongoing.

According to a study from the Japan International Cooperation Agency, at least 280 houses and 20 offices and factories in Cebu City need to be relocated while 30 houses and three establishments in Cordova will have to be moved to give way to the bridge groundwork.

Radaza said she welcomes invitations to meetings so that she can explain the project to her constituents.

“We’re happy we have the third bridge, ma-decongest na ang traffic,” she said.

Radaza added that Lapu-Lapu City’s Barangays Kalawisan and Babag may economically benefit from the construction since these are closest to the boundary of Cordova.

Last January 1, Cordova officials, Cebu province executives and other businessmen led the groundbreaking ceremony for the P16.5 billion project.

Cordova Mayor Adelino Sitoy said the groundbreaking ceremony coincided with an important event of the town – its founding anniversary – and that Shell Island was instrumental in converting Cordova into a municipality.

The bridge will start from a portion of Shell Island in Barangay Pilipog, Cordova and will end at the mouth of Guadalupe river near the Cebu Coastal Road tunnel in Cebu City.

The proposed bridge will have a span of about seven kilometers and will have the alignment and component of a connection on the Cebu City side through on and off ramps from Cebu South Coastal Road.

It will be longer than the existing Marcelo Fernan Bridge and the old Mandaue-Mactan Bridge.

It will also have a main bridge that will span the navigation path to Shell Island in Cordova town and a viaduct that will bring the bridge to the level of the causeway.

The causeway will lead to Pilipog in Cordova and an at-grade roadway will connect to the Mactan Circumferential Road, which will shorten the access to the airport from the third bridge’s causeway.

The construction of third bridge will begin mid-year and once it starts operating, a toll fee of P55 will be charged to motorists.

Officials said the Cebu City-Cordova bridge is proposed to ease extreme traffic congestion in Metro Cebu by 2020.