Landslide closes Halsema; highway opens August 20
>> Monday, August 16, 2010
DPWH workers clear a landslide along the Halsema Highway at Gonogon, Bontoc, Mountain Province which stranded thousands of motorists the past days. (See related story below.) – Gina Dizon
By Gina Dizon
BONTOC, Mountain Province -- Heavy rains last week eroded a mountainside here along the Halsema Highway at Barangay Gonogon here blocking the road and paralyzing buses and vehicles from proceeding to Baguio City, Bontoc, Besao or Sagada towns to date.
The road cut measuring 100 meters in length and 80 meters in height from the slope tip down the Chico River started late afternoon of Aug. 8 and worsened the following days due to strong rains.
Still at press time, commuters had to walk down the bridge along the river, pass through rice terraces, then to another bridge linking the highway on the other end.
Provincial district engineer John Marquez of the Department of Public Works and Highways said the road shall be open by Aug. 20.
The DPWH’s maintenance department is currently hauling soil debris out from the road.
For route diversion, Marquez said those with light vehicles may ply the Besao-Tadian road or commuters may take the Vizcaya-Baguio route to reach Sagada, Besao, or Bontoc.
Every year, road cuts here along the Gonogon area paralyzed vehicles and got them stranded on both ends while commuters had to transfer from one vehicle to another, walking through rice fields along the Chico River or climbing mountains to reach the other road end.
A resident here observed that landslides along the area worsened most probably due to road widening operations the past few years which disturbed the vegetation along the slopes.
He said lasting remedies are needed to be done to prevent further landslides.
BONTOC, Mountain Province -- Heavy rains last week eroded a mountainside here along the Halsema Highway at Barangay Gonogon here blocking the road and paralyzing buses and vehicles from proceeding to Baguio City, Bontoc, Besao or Sagada towns to date.
The road cut measuring 100 meters in length and 80 meters in height from the slope tip down the Chico River started late afternoon of Aug. 8 and worsened the following days due to strong rains.
Still at press time, commuters had to walk down the bridge along the river, pass through rice terraces, then to another bridge linking the highway on the other end.
Provincial district engineer John Marquez of the Department of Public Works and Highways said the road shall be open by Aug. 20.
The DPWH’s maintenance department is currently hauling soil debris out from the road.
For route diversion, Marquez said those with light vehicles may ply the Besao-Tadian road or commuters may take the Vizcaya-Baguio route to reach Sagada, Besao, or Bontoc.
Every year, road cuts here along the Gonogon area paralyzed vehicles and got them stranded on both ends while commuters had to transfer from one vehicle to another, walking through rice fields along the Chico River or climbing mountains to reach the other road end.
A resident here observed that landslides along the area worsened most probably due to road widening operations the past few years which disturbed the vegetation along the slopes.
He said lasting remedies are needed to be done to prevent further landslides.
0 comments:
Post a Comment