Archival: Fast-track Guadalupe ramp project

Local

CEBU City Mayor Nestor Archival is pushing to fast-track the long-delayed Guadalupe ramp project of the Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEX).

However, the plan now carries a key change in alignment from the originally proposed V. Rama Avenue corridor to a viaduct-based route along the South Road Properties (SRP).

Archival said the city expects increased traffic volume once the SM arena opens this year, prompting him to urge CCLEX management as early as two months ago to begin work on the ramp, which he described as critical to decongesting the SRP.

“This year maopen na ang area and we can expect more sakyanan, and there’ll be more traffic. Akong isulti ninyo, two months ago ni request ko sa CCLEX nga sugdan na ang ramp kay this ramp is very important maka decongest sa traffic sa SRP,” Archival said.

The mayor, however, acknowledged major challenges with the initial design, which routed the ramp toward V. Rama Avenue and would have affected hundreds of households.

“Ang ramp nga gi-design coming from airport, Cordova, CCLEX, going to ramp nga V. Rama, dako kaayo problema kay according sa data there are about 300-400 families nga ma-affected,” he said.

To address this, Archival said he formally requested CCLEX to explore alternative alignments that would accelerate the project while minimizing displacement.

“Nagpadala ko sulat sa CCLEX pangitaan ug paagi nga madali ang project para ma-decongest ang SRP nga dili na muagi sa V. Rama,” he added.

According to the mayor, CCLEX has since proposed a revised alignment that shifts the ramp toward the SRP viaduct area near Compania Maritima, avoiding residential zones altogether.

“Nihatag na og notice nako ang CCLEX nga naa na silay plano nga dili na muagi sa V. Rama but diri na sa Compania Maritima, so we call that as an exchange,” Archival said.

He said the city is expecting a detailed presentation from CCLEX within the week, including the revised design and implementation plan.

“Kung mao nani siya, we will be asking CCLEX to give us an overview next week unsay pagabuhaton. Akong gihangyo nga paningkamotan gyud nga mahitabo ni, niingon sila wala nay maapektuhan nga pamilya,” he said.

Archival added that the new design will involve construction along the viaduct over water, which could significantly speed up implementation.

“No houses that will be affected. What they will do is to work somewhere in the viaduct, naa sa dagat. In that case, ang pag-construct dali ra,” he said.

Once the detailed design and cost estimates are finalized, the mayor said CCLEX can proceed with execution.

“Mahibal-an na dayon kung naa nay detailed design and estimates para ila nang matrabaho,” he added.

Archival described the development as a positive step not only for Cebu City traffic management but also for improving connectivity between Cordova, the airport, and key urban areas.

“Nindot ni nga development sa Cebu because ang project from Cordova going to airport, magsugod nasad,” he said.

The updated proposal marks a significant shift from earlier plans to extend the CCLEX ramp toward V. Rama Avenue, which city officials previously supported as a direct link for motorists from the south district to access the bridge.

Under that plan, the city had already begun organizing a technical working group (TWG) to address right-of-way issues, particularly the relocation of informal settlers living along riverbanks in affected barangays.

Concerns over displacement, legal constraints, and project cost, estimated in past discussions to range from P5 billion to P6 billion, had contributed to delays in implementation.(TGP)