As one of the priority projects out of ten (10) identified in the PPP Infrastructures Study in 2011, the Central Luzon Link Expressway, Phase 1, was included in the 75 projects to be rolled-out under the Build, Build, Build Program of President Duterte. The whole extent of the expressway will be designed and constructed through a mix of ODA and PPP financing schemes where the private sector is given the opportunity to manage the Operations and Maintenance (O & M) of the facilities. The expressway is envisioned to support the sound development of Regional Growth Pole Cities of Tarlac and Cabanatuan, to form an important lateral (east-west) link for the over-all expressway network of Region III, aside from decongesting the traffic on the Pan-Philippine Highway (Daang Maharlika). CCLEX is a full-access controlled toll expressway linking Tarlac City, Cabanatuan City, and San Jose City and is 64-km long.
CCLEX Phase 1 covers Tarlac City and Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija with a length of 30 km, design speed of 100km/hour, 4-lanes, 4 interchanges, 5 underpass bridges, and 2 river bridges. For CCLEX Phase 1, CTII prepared the detailed engineering design and tender assistance for the selection of four contractors using the international competitive bidding system. The project proved to be a most challenging one given the issues of flooding, the need to minimize impact on agricultural lands and rice areas, possibility of liquefaction, requirement for a new technology on pavement type and soft-soil treatment, and preparation and smooth implementation of a participatory, inclusive Resettlement Action Plans. CTII to meet the challenges and demands of the project, relied on the technical and management competencies of its multi-disciplinary project team, extensive knowledge of the bio-physical characteristics of the area, knowledge of new technologies on bridge and roads design and construction, tight schedule monitoring. CTII considers the project an important assignment in the Philippines as it showcases its ability to design an expressway that complies with social and environmental safeguards and design standards and still meets the economic and financial feasibility criteria set by the client.