Quincentennial crosses at CebuCordova Link Expressway lighted
CEBU CITY – The Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX) was a sight to behold Thursday night following the lighting of the eight quincentennial crosses on top of the structure’s twin pylons.
Heavy downpour did not stop the ceremonial lighting of the third bridge linking Cebu and Mactan Island.
The lighting of the eight crosses was part of the 500 Years of Christianity (500 YOC) celebrations in Cebu. Each cross is 40 meters high and was installed on each side of the pylons.
On board a yacht off Mactan Channel, Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma led the blessing of the crosses. A short program was held at IL Corso Mall at South Road Properties (SRP) before the blessing.
"We had a dream to connect Cebu, Cordova, and Lapu-Lapu. That dream is becoming a reality. Because we dream and we are inspired as people of God," Palma said during the program.
Also present during the event were Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella, Cebu City Vice Mayor Michael Rama, Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Junard "Ahong" Chan, and Cordova Mayor Mary Therese "Teche" SitoyCho whose father, former Cordova Mayor and Secretary Adelino Sitoy, was instrumental in realizing the third Cebu-Mactan bridge. The program had just ended when Malacañang announced the passing of Sitoy.
The Cebu Cordova Link Expressway Corp. (CCLEC), the toll arm of Metro Pacific Investments Corp. (MPIC), reported that the ₱30billion bridge is already 67 percent complete as of March 2021.
The construction of CCLEX, a Public-Private Partnership (PPP), is expected to be finished this year and will be opened to traffic by 2022.