In order to shorten travel time of the expected influx of tourists going up to Baguio City during the Holy Week, DPWH Secretary Rogelio L. Singson has instructed DPWH-Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) Director Edilberto P. Carabbacan to implement an experimental one-way traffic scheme going up Kennon Road during the Holy Week.
The one-way traffic scheme would start from the Camp 1 Toll Gate at Tuba, Benguet, up to the Camp 7 Police Station (View Deck), Baguio City, and will be implemented from midnight of March 31, 2015 to midnight of April 3, 2015. All other National Roads shall remain two-way.
In consideration, residents along the stretch of the road would be allotted window times in the morning and in the afternoon from 11 a.m. to 12 noon and 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on said dates to go down Kennon Road. As such, special passes shall be issued to vehicles of certified Kennon residents only for the purpose.
To ensure safety at all times, billboards informing motorists of the one-way scheme with the specified window times were installed at strategic locations from Saytan, Rosario, to Baguio City. Flagmen will be assigned every 500 meters from Camp 1 to Camp 7 to caution motorists of the two-way traffic during the window times. Flyers will also be distributed to motorists entering Camp 1 during the window times to warn them of the two-way traffic. However, the times indicated on the flyers is from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., the additional one hour being provided to give sufficient time for the last vehicle entering the Camp 7 Police Station to exit the Toll Gate at Camp 1.
Relative to this, the Regional Office and the concerned District Engineering Offices (DEOs) particularly Baguio City DEO and Benguet First DEO were directed to activate their composite teams for the “Lakbay Alalay” Motorist Assistance. These comprise of personnel and mechanics to respond to emergencies/accidents and to assist the travelling public in their travel.
This one-way traffic scheme was conceptualized by Secretary Singson to shorten travel time from the lowlands to the Cordilleras to attract more tourists during special occasions/events and thus boost the economy of the Region.
All contractors were enjoined to keep the road sections under contract with their firms passable 24/7, provide traffic management teams/flagmen and install sufficient and appropriate warning signs.
These activities are also in line with the thrust of DPWH to keep all roads open and safe at all times to the riding public.