CLJV secures contract for Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway-

In December 2017, the contract for the construction of the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX) was awarded to the Cebu Link Joint Venture (CLJV). The ground breaking ceremony for the project was held in March 2017. The expressway will provide an alternative link between Mactan Island, where the Mactan-Cebu International Airport is located, and Cebu, the regional growth centre of Visayas. At present, the Mactan-Mandaue and the Marcelo-Fernan bridges provide connectivity between the regions.

Distinguishing features

The 8.25 km CCLEX project is being undertaken by CLJV, a joint venture of Spain-based Acciona Construccion S.A., Philippines-based First Balfour, Inc. and DM Consunji, Inc. The contract for the project was awarded by the Cebu Cordova Link Expressway Corporation (CCLEC), a subsidiary of the Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC). MPTC is the toll road arm of the Metro Pacific Investments Corporation and is, currently operating some of the Philippines major expressways such as the North Luzon Expressway, Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway and Manila Cavite Toll Expressway.

In September 2016, Philippines-based engineering consulting firm DCCD Engineering Corporation and Danish consulting group COWI had been appointed to provide engineering and technical advice to MPTC for the project. Further, Danish architecture and design firm Dissing+Weitling was contracted by MPTC to provide architecture and renderings for the CCLEX. The feasibility study for the project was conducted by Parsons Brinckerhoff in 2015.

The expressway will have four lanes, two in each direction. Of the total length, the connection to Cebu city via on and off ramps along Cebu South Coastal Road and another set along the Guadalupe river will span 1.21 km and 0.79 km respectively. Further, the main bridge will span 0.4 km; the Cordova viaduct, which brings the bridge to the level of the causeway, will stretch across 1.06 km and the causeway leading to Pilipog in Cordova will have a total length of 4.96 km. In addition, the at-grade connection to Mactan Circumferential Road will span 0.61 km. Besides these, there will be 1.7 metre wide lanes on each side of the bridge, which can be established as designated lanes for either bicycles or for pedestrians. These extra lanes will be separated by a 1.1-metre wide concrete wall from that of the actual roads on the bridge. The link’s 400 metre cable-stayed main span is also supported by two single pylons, rising to a height of 145 metres.

One of the unique features of the bridge is that it will have a light ring around it.  The light ring will have a diameter of approximately 520 metres and will have eight masts, each 10 metres in height.

Current status

Currently, CLJV is finalising the detailed engineering design for the project, which is expected to be finished by June 2018. The construction process will commence by July 2018. All government permits and clearances have been secured for the project except for the navigational clearance from the Philippine Coast Guard, which is being worked upon.

In terms of right-of-way (RoW) acquisition, the parcellary survey for the project has been completed and seven lots and 21 improvements have been identified on the Cordova side. However, no properties will be affected on the Cebu city side of the bridge, which will start at the Cebu South Coastal Road (CSCR) in the South Road Properties (SRP).

Financing plans

The project is being implemented on a public-private partnership basis at an estimated cost of PhP 22.6 billion. MPTC will finance 70 per cent of the project cost via equity and 30 per cent via borrowings from about six local banks. The project is expected to achieve financial closure by the third quarter of 2018.  In addition, around PhP 7.4 billion will be earmarked for RoW acquisition, overhead costs and consultancy fees.

Roadmap for land acquisition and toll collection

CLJV plans to lease portions of the SRP as a staging area for the project. Around 7,170 hectares of land will be leased out for a period of 46 months for the expressway. Under the lease contract, the city government will allow CLJV to use the SRP lot for all of its construction and support-related requirements and activities. The contract also allows the contractor to use the area as barracks, parking spaces for heavy and light equipment, temporary dumpsite of construction debris and temporary storage area, among others. Further, it also allows CLJV to use the city government-owned 1,500-square metre jetty located in the coastal area of the SRP. The use of the jetty will not entail any additional cost, but the contract provides that all improvements done by the contractor on the jetty will automatically be donated to the city government after the completion of the contract. This contract did not undergo any bidding or any mode of comparative proposals as it was a result of direct negotiation between the Cebu City government and CLJV, which has been agreed upon and finalised.

The total contract value will be paid through a down payment of PhP 2 million, which is equivalent to the rate for the first year of the contract, upon signing; subsequent instalments will be payable quarterly starting 2019.

Initially, the CCLEC plans to implement a speed limit of 80 to 90 km per hour on the bridge, which is expected to serve around 40,000 vehicles on a daily basis.  A toll fee of PhP 89 will be collected for class I vehicles or cars and private vehicles, while it will be double/triple the amount for bigger and heavier vehicles. The CCLEC will be operating the CCLEX for 35 years, after which the facility will be turned over to the local government units of Cebu city and Cordova.

The way forward

The Cebu-Cordova bridge is expected to be completed by 2022. Serving as an alternative route to and from the Mactan Cebu International Airport, the CCLEX is expected to enhance economic growth and boost development in the region. Given its monumental scale, the bridge is certain to become a local focal point. It will also support tourism growth by positioning Cordova as the major gateway for island tourism in Bohol, the Visayas region and mainland Cebu. Further, it will reduce the travel time between Mactan and Cebu by approximately 40 minutes. The toll bridge is also intended to facilitate trade activities in Cebu province, as well as create new employment opportunities for local residents.