The Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX) is the island’s new pride as it changes the landscape of the country’s main economic powerhouse in the south, Governor Gwendolyn Garcia said on Friday.

“Thank you for believing in Cebu and continuing to believe despite the challenges of the pandemic,” Garcia told business tycoon Manuel Pangilinan, chairman of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC), present during the CCLEX’s main bridge connection ceremony.

Garcia said the bridge would ease Metro Cebu’s traffic congestion and bring more opportunities for trade, commerce, and employment to other parts of both the mainland and Mactan Island.

“This link gives hundreds of thousands of Cebuanos in the southern part of the mainland, who otherwise would have to venture further north to use the first two bridges, greater access to Mactan island and vice versa,” she added. “The possibilities are exciting and limitless.”

The governor represented the province of Cebu during the ceremonial walk with the leaders of the local governments of Cebu City and Cordova Municipality to commemorate the connection of the two sides of the CCLEX.

The CCLEX has reached a major construction milestone with the final main bridge piece now cast, after more than three years in the making.

After years of construction, the deck of Tower 2 is now connected to Tower 1, a symbolic achievement of linking the town of Cordova in Mactan Island to the highly urbanized Cebu City on the mainland.

Cebu City officials headed by Acting Mayor Mike Rama and Cordova town officials led by Mayor Mary Therese Cho met in the middle of CCLEX after a ceremonial walk.

It has been 1,300 days since the PHP30-billion project broke ground. (PNA)