CROSSES BLESSED, LIGHTED:
The lighting of the crosses on top of the twin pylons is part of the ongoing year-long celebration of the commemoration of the 500 Years of Christianity in the country
The huge crosses designed into the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX) are blessed and lighted on Thursday, April 15, 2021 in time with Cebu’s celebration of the 500 Years of Christianity. From a yacht bearing the Holy Image of the Sto. Niño, Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma blessed the crosses mounted on the third Mactan bridge, which connects Cebu City and Cordova. The CCLEX is targeted for completion by end of 2021.
CEBU Archbishop Jose Palma led the blessing and ceremonial lighting of eight crosses placed on top of twin pylons of the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX) on a rainy Thursday afternoon, April 15, 2021.
After a short program at the Il Corso Port, South Road Properties in Cebu City, the blessing of the crosses took place with Palma approaching by yacht the main bridge pylons (Towers 1 and 2) of the currently being constructed CCLEX spanning the Mactan Channel.
Palma referred to the CCLEX as “a dream of the community” that is now becoming a reality because of the community working together.
“The bridge is not just a bridge. The bridge connects, makes people closer together, a beautiful expression of what life should be,” the prelate said.
He then expressed excitement at also giving the blessing during the opening of the CCLEX soon.
The eight crosses illuminated and placed on top of the CCLEX’s twin pylons are the contribution of the Cebu Cordova Link Expressway Corp. (CCLEC), its builder, to the ongoing year-long celebration of the commemoration of the 500 Years of Christianity in the Philippines.
CCLEC said among the iconic features of the CCLEX is the 40-meter crosses on all four sides on top of the bridge’s two main pylons.
The crosses’ design is inspired by the Magellan’s cross and is a tribute to Cebu as the cradle of Christianity in the country.
The CCLEX, which is worth P30 billion, is an 8.5-kilometer toll expressway that will soon connect mainland Cebu and the island of Mactan through Cebu City and the Municipality of Cordova.
As of March 2021, the overall Engineering, Procurement and Construction contract of the CCLEX is at 72.3 percent while construction progress alone is at 66.89 percent.
The project is targeted to be substantially completed by the end of 2021 and is being undertaken by a public-private partnership framework with the local governments of Cebu City and the local government of Cordova.