TABUK CITY, Kalinga – Vehicular accidents along critical portions of the Kalinga-Cagayan road are likely to be minimized following the completion of the installation of multi-million road safety devices by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) that will aid motorists in travelling on the roadline.
In her report to Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan and DPWH-Cordillera regional director Engr. Khaddaffy Tanggol, Engineer Ruby Uyam of the DPWH Lower Kalinga District Engineering Office (LKDEO) said that two major projects having a combined amount of PhP190.9 million were implemented along the Kalinga–Cagayan road, particularly at the Calanan-Enrile section in the city, to ensure the safe travel of motorists to and from the city.
She claimed that the road safety projects comprised the installation of 14,408 solar-powered road studs along a 12.47-kilometer portion of the Kalinga-Cagayan road in the city, including new reflectorized thermoplastic pavement markings for center line, edge lines and pedestrian lanes.
Uyam admitted that driving along the aforesaid section of the Kalinga-Cagayan road used to be challenging during the night when the situation is foggy and during the rainy season because of the difficulty of maneuvering along the critical portions of the roadline.
Uyam pointed out that the newly installed solar-powered studs will provide the needed road lighting for better visibility that will contribute in preventing the occurrence of untoward incidents that may compromise the overall safety of life and limb.
In the nearby town of Rizal which is within the jurisdiction of the DPWH-LKDEO, the agency was able to install 7,000 solar-powered road studs and reflectorized thermoplastic pavement markings along a tertiary road from Liwan West-Babalag-Macutay section with a project cost of PhP95.5 million from the annual budget of the public works department.
Uyam explained that the said project now serves as guide for motorists traversing the 7.48-kilometer road section to ensure the overall safety of motorists frequenting the said locality.
The district engineer urged motorists to continue adhering to defensive driving when travelling along the critical sections of the said roads to avoid the occurrence of untoward incidents posing a serious threat to life and limb for them to be able to safely reach their desired destinations inside and outside the province.
Motorists regularly travelling along the Kalinga-Cagayan road were elated following the completion of the projects because they can now safely maneuver along critical portions of the road even during the night because of the installed road safety devices that play a vital role in guiding them, especially when the visibility along the road is nearly zero due to the thick fog that often prevails in the area.
Uyam said that one of the major thrusts of the agency is to install road safety devices along critical portions of major road networks within its area of jurisdiction to ensure the overall safety of motorists frequently using the roadlines and make their travel to their desired destinations meaningful.
The DPWH-LKDEO has jurisdiction over national roads in Tabuk City, Rizal, Pinukpuk and Tanudan. By Dexter A. See
