NIGHT OWL
Anna Mae Yu Lamentillo
In the Roadmap Study for Sustainable Urban Development in Metro Cebu – Japan International Cooperation Agency predicted the increase of economic activity in the province by 15 times its 2010 level and the creation of one million jobs should the bluprint be implemented by 2050.
One of the key recommendations of the agency was the strengthening of the Mactan-Cebu Link through the creation of another bridge infrastructure between Mandaue and Mactan and another bridge that will link Cebu to Cordova.
As of date, the Cebu Cordova Link Expressway, which is operated by Metro Pacific is now at 70 percent and is expected to be completed by 2022.
The government of the Philippines and Japan have also formalized the loan agreement involving the 4th Cebu Mactan Bridge while construction on the 73.75-kilometer Metro Cebu Expressway has also started.
Since the start of President Rodrigo Duterte’s term, DPWH – under the leadership of Secretary Mark Villar – has completed 1,439 kilometers of roads, 435 bridges, 320 flood mitigation structures and 7,656 classrooms in Region 7.
Today, let’s explore Central Visayas — a region composed of four provinces: Cebu, Bohol, Negros Oriental and Siquijor and three highly urbanized cities: Cebu City, Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue.
1. Cebu Mactan Bridge (4th) and Coastal Road Construction Project
Cebu Mactan Bridge (4th bridge, perspective picture only)
To respond to the increasing traffic demand in Metro Cebu — DPWH, in partnership with the Japanese government, will construct the 4th long span bridge that would connect Cebu and Mactan Island. This will complement three bridges that spans across the Mactan Channel — the Marcelo Fernan Bridge, the Sergio Osmeña Bridge and the about to be completed Cebu Cordova Link Expressway.
The project involves the construction of a 3.3-kilometer bridge with an elevated viaduct of 2.86 kilometers and a 4.9-kilometer coastal road with a 4.751 kilometers elevated viaduct.
2. Metro Cebu Expressway
METRO CEBU Expressway
The Metro Cebu Expressway is a 73.75-kilometer high standard arterial road that would serve as an alternative north-south backbone highway. It would connect Naga City to Danao City in Cebu and improve Metro Cebu’s seemless east-west, south-north urban inter-modal transport.
The project is composed of three segments. The first segment, which spans 26.8-kilometer will connect Minglanila, Talisay, Cebu City, Mandaue and Consolacion in Cebu. The 29.799-kilometer second segment will expand it to Danao City and the final 17.15 kilometers section would connect it to Naga City.
3. Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX)
CEBU-CORDOVA Link Bridge
The 8.5-kilometer Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway will connect mainland Cebu from Cebu City via the Cebu South Coastal Road to Cordova town in Mactan Island. Implemented by the Cebu Cordova Link Expressway Corporation (CCLEC), a subsidiary of Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation, the infrastructure has a navigational clearance of 51 meters for shipping traffic and is expected to serve at least 50,000 vehicles daily.
- Access Road to Madridejos
Fond of Danggit? Drive thru the recently completed 5.9-kilometer access road which connects the three municipalities in the Island of Bantayan – Santa Fe, Bantayan and Madridejos. Don’t forget to drop by the Virgin Island.
- Montana-San Juan Buenaventura Road
MONTANA-SAN JUAN-BUENAVENTURA Road
Heading to Baclayon in Bohol? Why don’t you try the 3.5-kilometer Montana-San Juan Buenaventura Road.
6. Panglao-Tagbilaran City Offshore Connector Bridge
PANGLAO-TAGBILARAN City Offshore Connector Bridge
The 2.71-kilometer inter-island bridge is part of the Mega Bridge Master Plan, which aims to connect Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao via land travel. The project will connect Bohol to the island municipalities of Dauis and Panglao through the construction of a 1.2-kilometer four lane bridge, two short span bridges, and a 1.3-kilometer access road.
- Slope Protection along Dumaguete North Road
SLOPE PROTECTION along Dumaguete North Road
The installation of a rockfall barrier along Dumaguete North Road has reduced the hazard for rockfall and landslides due to slope instabilities caused by loose, disintegrated and weathered surfaces as well as debris flows.
- Candoni-Gatuslao-Basay Road
The 33-kilometer Candoni-Gatuslao-Basay Road, or the “Negros Connector” will connect the provinces of Negros Occidental and Negros Oriental. It will link the municipalities of Candoni and Hinoba-an in Negros Occidental to the municipalities of Basay in Negros Oriental.
- Alcoy Seawall
ALCOY SEAWALL
The Alcoy Seawall was constructed together with a wave deflector and an embankment to prevent flooding and protect the shoreline from erosion and scouring.
10. Maria Flood Control Project
The installation of 2,057 hexapods have minimized inundation in the coastal areas of Maria in Siquijor who often experienced flooding and storm surges. The project also included the construction of two bridges that would allow residents to pass through even during the high tide.