Travelers told: Skip Kennon Road to avoid heavy traffic

By Liza Agoot

 

BAGUIO CITY – Motorists are advised to avoid Kennon Road in going to or from Baguio to avoid being caught in heavy traffic due to repairs at the temporary bypass area.

In an advisory sent to the media on Wednesday, engineer Khadaffy Tanggol, regional director of the Department of Public Works and Highways in the Cordillera Administrative Region (DPWH-CAR), said, "There will be heavy traffic flow from Feb. 12 to 14, 2025, due to road surface correction along the temporary bypass of Kennon Road."

The bypass road located at Camp 2, Tuba, Benguet was built middle of 2024 after a portion of the road collapsed due to continuous heavy rains.

Tanggol, in a private message, said the repairs would be done to address the difficulty of traversing the area, especially for cars not intended for off-road.

He said the department has issued a continuing advisory that Kennon Road has limited access for light vehicles but only for those that can manage to pass dirt and mud as the bypass remains temporary pending the start of the full repair of the damaged area.

He suggested the use of Marcos Highway, San Pascual Road or Naguilian Road for more convenient travel.

Tanggol asked for the public's understanding as they came up with remedies to provide better travel conditions, despite the temporary nature of the repair.

Kennon Road repairs continue to be implemented every year after the historic road incurred major damage as a result of the 1990 Intensity 7 earthquake that hit northern Luzon.

Among the new projects is the 99 percent completed rock shed at Camp 6 that hopes to address the frequent landslide in the area that closes the whole 33-kilometer stretch of road. (PNA)