BAGUIO CITY – Local public works officials are appealing to the motoring and commuting public for their utmost understanding and cooperation on the temporary inconveniences that may be caused to them by the ongoing multi-million Marcos highway reblocking project to allow the contractor to complete the same even prior to the 45-day contract period.
The reblocking of the 549-meter portion of Marcos highway in front of a car company show room up to the front of the Cordillera office of the National Meat Inspection Service (NMIS-CAR) already commenced last November 5, 2019 which will be followed by the reblocking of the 126-meter portion of the highway in front of the Bakakeng Central covered court up to the junction of Kitma road wherein the said project is expected to be completed by December 21, 2019.
Engr. Alfredo Bannagao, Jr., project engineer of the Marcos highway reblocking project and chief of the construction division of the Department of Puublic works and Highways – Baguio City District Engineering Office (DPWH-BCDEO, said that the twin reblocking projects will be implemented in the right most lanes of the identified portions of Marcos highway to ensure the smooth travel of motorists to and from the city.
He claimed that the contractor of the project, Goldrich Construction, will be working on a 24-hour basis to ensure that it will be completed on or before the prescribed deadline.
According to him, the contractor was required to use a one day contrite mix which is a special cement mixture that will allow a faster cement drying and curing period to lessen the inconvenience of the motoring and commuting public and to ensure that the reblocking will be done the soonest.
However, he disclosed that the main highway leading to Baguio City will not be closed considering that the works will be done in the right most lanes but appropriate traffic scheme will be implemented to address its possible impact to the flow of traffic in the project sites.
The DPWH-BCEO official advised motorists wanting to visit the city to take the different alternate routes, particularly the Tubao-Asin-Baguio road and the Naguilian road, for them not to be caught in serious traffic congestions that will be caused by the ongoing reblocking project in some portions of the highway.
On the other hand, he also advised operators of heavy cargo trucks to make it possible that they use the Naguilian road as alternate route leading to their desired destinations while the project is underway so that they will not be caught in the traffic caused by the implementation of the project.
The project was provided a P7.7 million funding from the agency’s regular infrastructure fund for this year to ensure that the condition of the road will be improved considering the deterioration of the road portions.
He assured that the agency will ensure close monitoring of the ongoig project to ensure the compliance of the contractor to the prescribed project specifications and standards that will guarantee the quality of the project.
By Dexter A. See
