THE Central Visayas Regional Development Council, co-chaired by Cebu businessman Kenneth Cobonpue, is asking the Department of Public Works and Highways to conduct a feasibility study on the proposed Mactan road- network upgrade.
This is to complement the proposed Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEx) set to start in July after the groundbreaking ceremony held on March 2, led by President Duterte.
The Metro Pacific Tollways and Development Corp. entered into a joint-venture agreement with the municipality of Cordova and the city of Cebu for the design, financing, construction, implementation, operation and maintenance of a third bridge from mainland Cebu to Mactan Island, known as the CCLEx.
CCLEx includes the construction of the connections to Cebu City and Cordova, the main bridge structure, viaduct, causeway and roadway.
“To complement the proposed project, the existing road network in Cordova and Lapu-Lapu City on Mactan Island needs to be upgraded to cope with the traffic volume coming in and out of Mactan Island via the CCLEx. Thus, the conduct of a feasibility study on the Mactan road-network upgrade is proposed,” read the resolution passed during the RDC-7 Full Council meeting last March 10.
The proposed Mactan road-network upgrade has several components. These include at-grade road to Cordova boundary; at-grade road to M. Patalinghug Road to M. Patalinghug Avenue; another at-grade road to M. Patalinghug Avenue; M. Patalinghug Avenue to the airport, at-grade road using MEPZ II Road; Generation Aviation plus Quezon National Highway; at-grade road to Gabi Bridge; Day-as to Poblacion (Bantayan Road); Gabi to Catarman to Pilipog Coastal Road; Mactan Circumferential; and Punta Engaño Road.
The RDC Infrastructure Development committee chaired by Cebu businessman Glenn Anthony Soco, noted the urgency of the proposed road improvements given the CCLEx is expected to be operational by 2021.
During its meeting on February 28, 2017, the IDC passed a resolution requesting the RDC Full Council to request the DPWH to conduct a feasibility study on the proposed Mactan Road Network Upgrade.
The feasibility study would also determine the relative priorities of each project component.