Cosalan pushes rehab of road at Badiwan stretch

By March Fianza

TUBA, Benguet -- Public works engineers would soon have their hands full when programs to upgrade travel along the Palispis-Aspiras Highway, more popularly known as Marcos Highway, reach the drawing board within the next two months.

Rep. Ronald M. Cosalan of Benguet, the committee chair on public infrastructure in the House of Representatives, broached the proposal to officials of this town and engineers from the Department of Public Works and Highways – Cordillera Region during an on-site inspection last weekend.

The proposal to be included in the list of priorities of public works in Benguet is the installation of a weighbridge at the southwestern end of Marcos Highway.

Aside from a weighbridge, Cosalan and DPWH engineers informed newsmen that the road section from the Badiwan viaduct to the Sto. Tomas intersection would have to be rerouted.

ARD Alex Castaneda of the DPWH-Cordillera said, a zig-zagging route above the 3.1 – km. Badiwan stretch that is adjacent to the western part of the Baguio Dairy Farm would be opened.

The short diversion road is expected to improve travel safety, particularly by easing motor vehicle stress and avoid future accidents especially for northbound motorists that traverse Marcos Highway from the Badiwan viaduct to the Sto. Tomas intersection with no let-up.

Earlier, Benguet Governor Nestor B. Fongwan called on the attention of road engineers on the status of the Badiwan stretch which according to him has a technical defect.

Fongwan said, it is “unusual to find a road that goes straight uphill or downhill without giving vehicles a breather.”

DPWH-Benguet Engineering District head Alberto Gahid last week said he has already asked his men to prepare for a ground survey of the areas to be affected by the rerouting project.

Part of upgrading travel was the proposal to include a weighbridge at the lower end part of Marcos Highway somewhere in barangay Taloy, Tuba or Pugo, La Union before motorists ascend the road.

Weigh stations are installed on road shoulders to peg the maximum load of heavy trucks to ensure the safety of bridges and to protect road surfaces, including the road’s lifespan.

Tuba mayor Florencio Bentres along with vice Mayor Clarita Sal-ongan, councilors Roger Kitma and Marie Carantes who joined the inspection also informed Cosalan of their resolution for the installation of other safety facilities.

They said their objective is to add facilities that would ensure the safety of all motorists who travel along Marcos Highway that is within their responsibility.

The facilities include a stop-over inspection station before motorists descend, road humps to check motor vehicles’ brakes and safety ramps for motorists who lose their brakes.

Bentres also informed the Benguet solon about their desire to construct a police checkpoint at the intersection of Tuba road and Marcos Highway. – marchfianza777@yahoo.com