Public Works limits trucks on Kennon Road

Monday, July 4, 2011

PUBLIC Works officials are serious in limiting heavy trucks and trailers passing through bridges along Kennon Road in Baguio City.

Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Regional Director Edilberto Carabbacan recently met with members of the Regional Law Enforcement Coordinating Committee-sub-committee on Public Works Transportation and Communication on the modified advisory on load limits of vehicles passing through Kennon Road.

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The load limit advisory was modified pending the conduct of assessment on the Bridge 2 at Camp 7, Demonstration Bridge at Camp 6, and Camp 6 Bridge by the DPWH-Bureau of Design as per request of various truckers, particularly sand and gravel haulers and operators.

Vehicles coming from Baguio City going to Camp 6 quarry area and vice versa are allowed to pass. However, they should abide by the safety measures set by DPWH.

At Kennon Road Bridge 2, the center lanes will be opened to traffic, while outer lanes will be closed.

With Demonstration bridge and Camp 6 bridges, the left lane will be closed to traffic leaving only the right lane open to traffic.

Carabaccan reiterated the agency's stand on anti-overloading of trucks and trailers passing through Kennon Road bridges, as overloading lessens the life span of bridges and quality of roads.

The regional director raised concern of DPWH technical experts after several bridges in the city are compromised as vehicles passing continue to violate load limits.

Last January, the regional office also requested Secretary Rogelio Singson through the Bureau of Design to order technical investigation of bridges located along Kennon Road including those in Pugo, Camp 1 and 5.

Last February 16, DPWH Bureau of Design OIC-Director Gilberto Reyes ordered for the provision of the load limit warning signs on approaches of all the bridges of Kennon to minimize damage to national roads and bridges brought by overloaded trucks and to save billions of public funds allocated for road and bridge maintenance operation.

Members of the RLECC sub-committee include the Department of Transportation and Communication, National Telecommunication Commission, Department of Interior and Local Government, Department of Education, Highway Patrol Group, the National Police Commission and the Philippine Information Agency. (JM Agreda)