Ever wondered how the spirit of revolution could be cemented in a bridge? The Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway or Jose Rizal-Sun Yat Sen Bridge is more than just concrete and steel. It embodies the shared ideals of freedom.
Let me tell you about this iconic structure. The Jose Rizal-Sun Yat Sen Bridge stretches 8.9 kilometers. It connects Cebu City and Cordova. This impressive bridge is also known as the Cebu-Cordova Bridge or the Third Cebu-Mactan Bridge. It is the longest sea-crossing bridge in the Philippines. It surpasses the San Juanico Bridge.
Before this bridge the only road link between Cebu and Mactan islands was Marcelo Fernan Bridge. The Jose Rizal-Sun Yat Sen Bridge is the first between Cebu City and Cordova.
The idea for the Jose Rizal-Sun Yat Sen Bridge started with Cordova Mayor Adelino Sitoy. He wanted to connect Cordova to Cebu City. Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation proposed the bridge in 2014.
In 2016, the Cebu Cordova Link Expressway Corporation secured a ₱19-billion loan. Construction began in 2017. The Jose Rizal-Sun Yat Sen Bridge played a role in the Quincentennial Commemorations in the Philippines. Eight ecumenical Iconic Crosses were placed on the bridge’s pylons in 2021.
The main bridge deck was completed on October 5 2021. Then-President Rodrigo Duterte inaugurated the Jose Rizal-Sun Yat Sen Bridge on April 27 2022. It opened to motorists on April 30 2022.
The Jose Rizal-Sun Yat Sen Bridge was designed by Spanish firms Carlos Fernandez Casado and SENER Ingenieria y Sistemas. The local firm DCCD Engineering Corporation and the Danish firm COWI served as owner’s engineers. Acciona and Philippine firms First Balfour and DMCI built the bridge. The Jose Rizal-Sun Yat Sen Bridge is 27 meters wide. It serves as an alternate route to Mactan-Cebu International Airport. It can handle at least 40000 vehicles daily.
Its 390-meter main span is cable-stayed. It has 145-meter-high twin tower pylons. These pylons are inspired by Magellan’s Cross Pavilion. The main span provides a 51-meter navigation clearance. This allows ships to pass under.
The Jose Rizal-Sun Yat Sen Bridge uses a barrier toll system. Toll rates vary by vehicle class. Electronic toll collection began on July 2 2022.
There are plans to extend the expressway. A 2 km ramp on the Cebu City side is proposed. An extension through Lapu-Lapu City to Mactan-Cebu International Airport is also considered. There is even talk of connecting the Jose Rizal-Sun Yat Sen Bridge to the proposed Cebu-Bohol Bridge.
The Jose Rizal-Sun Yat Sen Bridge stands as a symbol. It represents progress connectivity and a tribute to revolutionary ideals. As you cross this bridge remember the visionaries who dreamed of a better future. Their legacy lives on in every span and cable.