Construction of Philippines Expressway complete

Construction of the Cebu Cordova Link Expressway in the Philippines, designed by Sener, has been completed. The project consists of a road approximately 8.5km long that connects the islands of Cebu and Mactan-Cordova and cost approximately ₱33 billion (US$629 million). 

The 8.5km road runs entirely over water (Photo: Sener)

Sener was the lead engineering firm in the detailed design of the entire project, which is provided as part of a temporary joint venture with its partner CFC. The company also designed the structures needed for the toll area: booths, ducts, canopy and auxiliary electrical building. 

The road runs entirely over water (viaduct or causeway), with a combination of viaducts starting on the island of Cebu that crosses the Mactan Strait.

Since the construction is entirely over water in a highly seismic area that is also hit by typhoons with winds as strong as 250 kph, all of which require deep foundations and pile caps above the water line, greater consideration for these challenges was necessary.

To minimise the forces from the deck to the substructure in seismic situations, Sener suggested that a damping system is used that relies on lead rubber bearings (LRB), which dissipates the energy transmitted by plasticising the lead under dynamic loads.