The Philippines' longest bridge is set to open soon

After four years of construction, the Philippines will soon have a bridge to rival the likes of the Golden Gate Bridge and Brooklyn Bridge. In fact, at 8.9 km, the Cebu-Cordova bridge will be longer than both of these iconic connectors.

The two ends of the bridge were recently connected for the first time. Local government officials and members of the Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC) attended the main bridge deck ceremony to celebrate connecting the localities of Cebu and Cordova.

Formally known as the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEx), the P30-billion project is now at 86% completion. It is a public-private partnership between MPTC and local governments. Upon completion in early 2022, the bridge will become one of several tollways in the country. It will join the Skyway Stage 3 as one of the more recent expressways to open locally. It will also surpass the 5-km Candaba Viaduct at the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) as the longest bridge in the Philippines.

The bridge will use a fully-electronic toll system to ensure uninterrupted traffic flow. Last week, MPTC began the installation of radio-frequency identification (RFID) stickers for interested motorists. 

The people involved in the construction believe that the bridge will increase economic activities in the connecting areas. It will be the third bridge to connect mainland Cebu to Mactan Island. The latter houses the Mactan-Cebu International Airport (MCIA) and some of the Philippines' most lavish resorts and hotels.

With the Cebu-Mactan Bridge or CCLEx set to open early next year, residents in the area have quite the gem on their hands. Tourists from other parts of the country and the world could also flock to the region to see what will become one of the longest bridges in Asia.