Bridge or highway
Early on during the May elections, a few Cebuano candidates expressed support for a third bridge to be built linking mainland Cebu to Mactan island to decongest the burgeoning traffic volume in Metro Cebu.
The Movement for a Livable Cebu also helped lobby support for a third bridge by producing a design and initial studies for a unique cable-stayed bridge from south Cebu City to Shell Island and then Cordova town.
The study, which includes a well-thought out revitalization of historic and waterfront districts of the city was drawn up by architecture and engineering students of the University of San Carlos, and looks very promising.
A third Cebu bridge has been discussed for years in the Regional Development Council, and bills filed in Congress.
But the wish was never as close to moving on to reality as this year.
No cost estimates or government budget have been set yet, but what fuels the possibility is the solid offer of a firm identified with the consortium of business tycoon Manuel Pangilinan to conduct a six-month feasibility study at no cost to the Province of Cebu. That in itself signals the potential of the bridge project to attract investor interest.
The study would serve as the basis for cost projections and engineering requirements which would guide investors in the private or public sector.
Tomas Osmeña’s comments about the third bridge put a damper on the momentum, as well as provided a reality check.
He said building a third bridge from Cebu mainland to Cordova town may, from a geographical standpoint, result in Cebu sacrificing the Cebu International Port (CIP) because placing the bridge there would prevent vessels from docking at the CIP. He suggests having the starting point at Colon Street.
Osmeña also pointed out that the government is not keen in financing its construction since it may entail collecting toll fees in order to recover costs. Motorists would prefer free access to the two existing Mandaue-Mactan bridges, he maintains.
Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes has his own alternative: Build a coastal highway from the reclamation area leading to the coastal barangays of Mandaue City to decongest traffic leading to the two bridges.
All these proposals augur well for Cebu. It shows that civil society and leaders are thinking of growth and how to address traffic congestion on a big scale beyond putting up the next flyover.
It’s too much to expect this massive infrastructure to be ready for the 2015 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit but Cebu should aim to get it done as a fitting monument for 2021, the 500th anniversary of Cebu as the “Cradle of Christianity” in Asia.
