SRP viaduct closed for 11 nights from June 19-29

CEBU, Philippines —  The Cebu South Coastal Road (CSCR) viaduct at the South Road Properties in Cebu City is closed to vehicular traffic for 11 nights starting yesterday.

The Cebu Cordova Link Expressway Corp. (CCLEC), in an advisory, said the viaduct is impassable from 8:30 p.m. to 6 a.m. from June 19 to 29.

CCLEC said the closure is needed to safely install the girders that will connect the viaduct to the Cebu South Coastal Road (CSCR) on-ramps.

“We apologize for the inconvenience,” it said.

CCLEC advised northbound motorists to take F. Vestil road, while southbound motorists can take Osmeña Boulevard to Natalio Bacalso Avenue.

CCLEC undertakes the Cebu–Cordova Link Expressway project or the third bridge, an 8.5-kilometer toll expressway that will link the islands of Mactan and mainland Cebu.

75% Done

On the other hand, the construction of CCLEX is now 75 percent complete.

This was reported during the project inspection conducted Thursday by Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC) President and CEO Rodrigo Franco.

CCLEC is a subsidiary of MPTC.

Franco, who also conducted a management conference with the project team, said he is happy with the progress of the construction despite the challenges brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.

He expressed appreciation for the continuing support and cooperation of Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella and Cordova Municipality Mayor Mary Therese Sitoy-Cho as government partners of the CCLEX.

“The support of both the Cebu City government and Cordova Municipal government have been invaluable. We would not have been able to manage the impact of the pandemic on the construction timeline without them,” Franco said in a statement.

Franco said the preparations for the electronic system are ongoing.

“We foresee that the CCLEX will have a cashless toll system to give the riding public a convenient and seamless travel by providing this kind of innovative solution,” he said.

Since CCLEX is technology-driven, CCLEC president and general manager Allan Alfon said they are optimistic it can operate efficiently with an all-electronic toll system.

This, he said, can save time for motorists and provide faster traffic flow.

“This is a new mobility experience we are preparing for our fellow Cebuanos,” he said.

Also, works are now advancing at the main bridge. Its decks are inching closer with only 104 meters left until the 390-meter main span will be connected, while 41 out of the 56 stay cables are now in place.

Girder installations using the launching gantry and plank installations are also being done at the CSCR on-ramp and off-ramp sections.

The installation of girders at the Cebu viaduct, on the other hand, is already done. Succeeding works are now on the installation of the planks for the carriageway.

At the Cordova viaduct, girder installation is well underway as well as the embankment works for the causeway.

The four low-lying bridges that will serve as access of the Cordova fishermen to their fishing ground is also almost complete.

The P30-billion CCLEX is targeted to be completed by the end of 2021 and be open to motorists in the first quarter of 2022.

It has a design speed of 80 kilometers per hour and a navigational clearance or height of 51 meters so as to allow large vessels to pass underneath the bridge. — KQD (FREEMAN)