Joint venture bags P22.5-B Cebu expressway project

MANILA — A subsidiary of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC) has awarded the PHP22.6-billion design-and-build contract of the 8.5-kilometer Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX) to Cebu Link Joint Venture (CLJV).

Cebu Cordova Link Expressway Corporation (CCLEC), a subsidiary of the toll road arm of publicly-listed Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC), issued last month the notice of award for the bridge project to CLJV.

CLIV is a joint venture of Spain-based Acciona Construccion S. A. and Philippine-based First Balfour Inc. and D. M. Consunji Inc.

The much-anticipated bridge project that will connect Cebu City to the Municipality of Cordova in the island of Mactan is the first of MPTC’s envisioned toll road expansion projects in Visayas and Mindanao.

“We are very confident that we can deliver a quality state-of-the-art bridge that will provide not just travel efficiency but also drive economic growth and productivity in the entire Visayas region, and improve the overall welfare of the Cebuanos,” CCLEC President and General Manager Allan Alfon told the local bourse.

CCLEC will build, operate and maintain the toll bridge through a joint venture agreement with the local governments of Cebu City and Cordova municipality.

Acciona’s Ruben Camba, representing the CLJV, said: “We are delighted to be part of this landmark project. We have put together a very experienced team, and are looking forward to working closely together with the customer to deliver a new toll bridge that will benefit both local communities and the Philippines.”

The CCLEX allows for shipping traffic and the link is expected to serve at least 40,000 vehicles daily.

The project is envisioned to decongest the traffic in the two existing bridges between Mactan and Cebu.