BAGUIO residents and visitors endure heavy traffic jams on Leonard Wood Road, which leads to the summer capital’s major tourist spots like the Wright and Mines View parks, and the presidential Mansion. RICHARD BALONGLONG/ INQUIRER NORTHERN LUZON
BAGUIO CITY—Tourists, who arrived here before the long Holy Week break, suffered through traffic caused by 44 roadworks that turned the summer capital into a Biblical trek through Calvary.
One of them, Sen. Francis Escudero, who drove here to attend a wedding on Saturday, said traffic was smooth through the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway up to the city proper where gridlocks happened because of rerouted routes to give way to road diggings and repairs.
“I was surprised. I thought I left Manila traffic behind when I proceeded here,” he said.
Taxi drivers said inner city traffic jams were not as bad as the Christmas gridlock on Dec. 26, but were bad enough that “so many tourists have been complaining.”
The roadworks represent the bulk of the road rehabilitation projects allotted for Baguio this year, according to Baguio District Engineer Alex Castañeda, who pleaded for patience in statements aired over local TV and radio broadcasts.
Although the road projects were coordinated with the police, Baguio Mayor Mauricio Domogan on Wednesday complained that the new excavations again caught the city government unaware.
Most of the projects affect roads surrounding downtown Baguio, including a street beside the Baguio Cathedral, and those leading to major tourist destinations like the presidential Mansion.
The Baguio police traffic management unit imposed also a traffic contingency plan should the number of visitors with vehicles increase this week.
Starting April 3, Kisad Road near Burnham Park will be a one-way street for motorists driving to downtown Baguio. Legarda Road will serve as the outbound street for those leaving downtown Session Road.
The stretch to Mines View Park will serve as a one-way loop, allowing motorists to enter the area through Romulo Street and exiting through Gibraltar Road.
One-way traffic now operates from the Baguio Cathedral at the Post Office Loop, for vehicles headed for Leonard Wood Road (if they are going to Teachers’ Camp, the Botanical Gardens, Mines View Park or the Mansion). This is because of work to install a new drainage system beside the cathedral.
On April 1, Kennon Road will be one way for motorists going to Baguio, while Marcos Highway and Naguilian Road will remain two-way traffic areas. Kimberlie Quitasol with a report from Vincent Cabreza, Inquirer Northern Luzon