Walking Where No One Walks: Finding Calm on Cebu's CCLEX

No one almost ever talks about how beautiful and relaxing it is to take a walk on a highway road. Almost everyone talks about hiking on a mountain path or walking on a beach. It is actually not aesthetically pleasing to our eyes, as cars and transport vehicles do pass by us, making sounds of chaos and rush that would make us no longer calm and focused on our walks. Worse, dust and carbon emissions really do appear in front of us. But sometimes, it is not always the case, as at some time of the day there would be a moment when these roads no longer make sound and no longer carry the passengers who used to pass by. Instead, it would be alone and calm, quiet to the extent that you will learn to love it and walk on it.

Such is how I experienced CCLEX in Cebu City when I had the chance to take a walk after a boring day at my brother’s house. I have heard of this bridge many times but wasn’t able to visit it whenever I visited the city, since I always thought of it as a very busy and chaotic street. Not until I had my first walk there, in a lonely and peaceful dusk of the 14th this month, did I find out how beautiful it is to walk there without disturbance, with the sunset serenading you in your soft walk.

For context, the Cebu–Cordova Link Expressway isn’t just a bridge or highway in the city but a modern landmark that contributes to the overall identity of Cebu City. While the city has many bridges and highways, CCLEX stands out the most from the others, as it mesmerizes hikers and tourists with its structure and modern aura, which is different from what we commonly see in bridges. It opened in April 2022 and until now it is enjoyed by tourists and locals because of its perfect carriage of sunset views and breeze while looking at the sea and the horizon.

CCLEX, for the record, is an 8.9-kilometer expressway that connects Cordova to Cebu City and vice versa. CCLEX gained wide attention from people when they learned that this expressway really has scenic beauty one can encounter when personally experienced, and that the engineering and overall structure of this bridge are just so brilliant, with towering 145-meter pylons and a great horizon view of the sea and city buildings. It is not only for big vehicles, as bike lanes and pedestrian walkways are built for more relaxing expressway experiences so that tourists and people can live their lives most happily when they get there.

I will be honest that CCLEX is so aesthetically pleasing to the eyes, unlike other roads, and it just looks like a foreign bridge to me. Interesting, isn’t it? More than that, the purpose of the expressway adds more relevance to it, as it shortens the travel of vehicles from three hours to only one hour. This makes it a place of easy exploration and gives more time to discover its beauty without running out of the clock.

What I like about CCLEX is how its construction is environmentally friendly. Based on the data I have researched, plenty of solar panels are installed along the bridge, generating enough energy and clean resources without harming the marine life below. The design and construction of this expressway used environmental measures to minimize harm to marine ecosystems and reduce pollution, and it eases traffic congestion by providing a faster route between Cebu City and Cordova. This means vehicles do not emit as much carbon as before and emissions are lessened through shortened travel.

In some corners of CCLEX, you can spot bodies of water and marine trees that are essential to the ecosystem below it. I found it relaxing to witness the greens in the water while walking on the pedestrian path, with the sun warm and gentle. I know how walking responsibly helps me find peace and brings my body back to parasympathetic mode, but this expressway really made it more relaxing and made my walk more special and unique.

By night, CCLEX is dressed with car lights and passing feet, while reflecting the lights seen in city buildings and facilities. I suggest you stay on the bridge for a moment if you are caught by nighttime already and experience the night ambiance of this bridge, with the steady water illuminating the city lights. It was really a good walk, and I enjoyed my own company whilst making sense of life. I had to go back to my brother’s house before it got too quiet, since it would be dangerous for me. CCLEX really is not only a bridge but a space to relax and wander our thoughts.