Strict load limit for Kennon urged

TUBA, Benguet— The Cordillera Administrative Region office of the Department of Public Works and Highways urged law enforcers to strictly implement the 10-ton load limit for motor vehicles plying the 34-km stretch of Kennon Road to prevent further damage to bridges and several critical roads.

Engineer Edilberto Carabbacan, regional DPWH director, said Kennon Road is fragile considering there are many areas which are still being repaired that could be damaged if they carry too much load from trucks travelling along the road to their destination.

Since Kennon Road was heavily damaged by the July 16, 1990 killer earthquake, the DPWH imposed a 10-ton load limit along the whole stretch of the road, except those given exemptions by the agency specifically those involved in sand and gravel hauling in the area, and the same has never been lifted since then.

However, several overloaded cargo trucks going to and coming from Baguio City and Benguet are still allowed to pass through the scenic zigzag road since it is the shortest route from the lowlands to the city and vice versa. -- Dexter See