PB gives go signal for third bridge study

CEBU, Philippines - The conduct of the feasibility study of the third access linking the Island of Mactan and mainland Cebu is underway as the Provincial Board gave go signal for the start of the project.

The PB has authorized Gov. Hilario Davide III to sign a memorandum of agreement with the Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. and Cordova Mayor Adelino Sitoy for the conduct of the feasibility study.

To be included in the study are the necessary pre-development, traffic, engineering and other technical studies to determine the feasibility of the project.

Davide told reporters that they will set the signing of the MOA with MPTC and Cordova after the PB has passed the resolution sponsored by Board Member Grecilda Sanchez last session.

“MPTC shall conduct its pre-development studies at no cost to the Province and Cordova,” read the proposed MOA.

Davide said he had an informal talk with some MPTC officials during their visit at the Capitol last month.

“It’s a huge project kung madayun,” said Davide adding that it would still take a long process.

As proposed by MPTC, the project includes the design, construction, implementation, operation and maintenance of a third access located south of the existing Osmeña Bridge linking the Island of Mactan to Cebu City.

It also includes the main bridge structure, viaduct, causeway, and support arterial roads.

MPTC is also considering looking at various alignments extending the third access connection up to the Mactan-Cebu International Airport.

The rise in business establishments locating within the Province and the increase in passenger vehicles and the ever-growing population that have contributed to the traffic congestion in major thoroughfares in Metro Cebu are the major considerations for having a third access in addition to the two existing bridges.    

Seeing the traffic problem on both bridges, the Metro Cebu Bridge Management Board (MCBMB) earlier passed a resolution appealing the authorities to hasten the opening of the third access.

The proposals under discussion at present include the opening of a tunnel from Cebu City to Cordova town which forms part of Mactan Island.

The second proposal was the construction of a third bridge from Cebu City passing through Shell Island to Cordova. —(FREEMAN)