THE historic Kennon Road will soon be opened to motorists in 2019. But for residents only.

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) said the opening is tentatively set by March after all rehabilitation works have been finished.

In a press briefing, DPWH-Cordillera director Tiburcio Canlas explained at least nine critical sections of Kennon Road are still undergoing rehabilitation.

On top of this, Canlas said he requested their central office to analyze what still needs to be done along Kennon Road to keep its residents safe.

“Prior to my assumption as regional director in September this year, the DPWH Central Office released P12 million for Camp 6 and P10 million for Camp 1 which was downloaded at the Benguet 1st Engineering Office. The bidding was done December 10 and we expect that before the end of the year, this will be awarded,” Canlas said.

He also instructed the district engineer to expedite the Camp 6 section and Camp 1 bridge rehabilitation which the department hopes to be finished even before the end of March.

Kennon Road at present has nine critical sections aside from the Camp 5 Bridge which was destroyed during the onset of Typhoon Ompong.

“At the Camp 5 section, we have launched the two girders. I suppose we will be able to finish this by the end of February but we are trying to finish it by February 15. We are working round the clock. The problem in that area of Kennon Road is that it was destroyed during Ompong including the Camp 1 Bridge while at Camp 6, it suffered a long road slip,” Canlas stayed.

For motorists coming to Baguio, the DPWH official encouraged motorists to use the newly opened Asin-Nangalisan Road via Anduyan Bridge.

“Please bear with us since we will be working round the clock even with Kennon, even with the traffic we will be working to assist the police to ease traffic going up to Baguio. We will intensify the information drive for motorists to use the Asin-Nangalisan road and other roads going up to Baguio like Naguilian and Marcos Highway,” Canlas added.