CCLEC breaks ground for weighbridge project at CSCR

CEBU, Philippines — A P70-million worth weighbridge station facility is set to be built soon along the Cebu South Coastal Road (CSCR) in Cebu City to ensure that trucks and trailers passing through are not overloaded.

The Cebu Cordova Link Expressway Corporation (CCLEC) had its groundbreaking ceremony yesterday, led by its president and General Manager Allan Alfon, together with Cebu City acting Mayor Raymond Garcia and Councilors Rey Gealon and Jun-Jun Osmeña, among other government officials.

The construction of the Cebu Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX) weighbridge station is in accordance with Republic Act 8794 or the Anti-Overloading Act of the Philippines, which penalizes trucks and trailers that are loading beyond their prescribed gross vehicle weight.

The law provides that trucks and trailers are not allowed to carry loads per axle that exceed 13,500 kilograms. Violation of this entails a fine worth 25 percent of the truck's Motor Vehicle User's Charge.

Strategically located before the CCLEX on-ramp, the weighbridge station will have a booth that will serve as a control station for the weighing of trucks and trailers.

Apart from the weighbridge station on the Cebu City side of CCLEX, it will have a counterpart weighbridge station on the Cordova side of the expressway.

"This facility, which will be the newest addition to our services, is vital to our infrastructure and customers,” Alfon said.

As per CCLEC, this multimillion project plays a critical role in maintaining the integrity of the 8.9-kilometer CCLEX, which serves thousands of vehicles and road users daily.

It aims to help protect the CSCR at the South Road Properties (SRP) and its viaduct from the wear and tear and potential damage.

Aside from that, it is also expected to help in preventing overloaded trucks and trailers from stalling or breaking down at the CSCR that consequently cause heavy traffic in the area.

“This protects CCLEX from overloaded trucks while ensuring safer road conditions for motorists. We are also taking proactive steps to guarantee the longevity and operational lifespan of our expressway," added Alfon.

Cebu City Transportation Office (CTTO) assistant head Atty. Kent Jongoy disclosed that so far, there has been a total of 697 disabled vehicles around the said area with 80 percent of them being 6-wheeler trailer trucks and heavy equipment.

CCLEC has already awarded the construction of the project to a contractor and is expected to be completed in a few months.

CCLEC, a subsidiary company of Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC), is the toll road arm of Metro Pacific Investments Corporation (MPIC) and a member of the MVP Group of Companies.

MPTC is the largest toll road concessionaire and operator in the Philippines, which expansion goals include establishing toll operations in the Visayas, other parts of the Philippines, and in neighboring countries notably Vietnam and Indonesia. —  Rowena Capistrano (FREEMAN)