March 29, 2024

La Trinidad, Benguet is hopeful the construction of overpasses would commence this year, as a means to ease the traffic congestion problem in the municipality.

Mayor Romeo Salda said the planned three overpasses will be constructed at Km. 6, below the Capitol, at Km. 5 public market, and at Km. 4 where big businesses are located.

The Kalinga party-list funded construction of the Km. 4 overpass, which would be put up in front of the TiongSan building and across the Senly Loy Building.

The P5 million fund has already been included in the General Appropriations Act of 2023.

The municipality is also coordinating with the Department of Public Works and Highways for the funding of other overpasses, which earlier received P60M but were reverted due to some problems with the lot owners.

“Prior to the construction, there were no consultations with the affected lot owners that is why when they began constructing the posts at Km. 5 and Km. 6, the lot owners came forward with their concerns which delayed the construction,” Salda said.

The earlier proposed design for the overpass at Km. 5 includes an elevator to service senior citizens and persons with disabilities. The municipality will request DPWH to retain the original design.

Councilor Guiller Galwan, chair of the committee on peace and order, said they will convene the Traffic Management Board to discuss possible traffic schemes in the municipality.

“We will focus on the strict enforcement of the Traffic Code and information dissemination. We are also considering the creation of an office that will solely dwell on traffic issues,” Galwan said.

He said the recommendations in the earlier conducted traffic summit will also be considered either as an experimental scheme or as an amendment to the Traffic Code, which was approved by the provincial board last year.

Additional CCTV surveillance cameras will also be installed at the municipality’s control center to monitor traffic. 

The motorists’ discipline is also needed such as following no parking signs and other traffic signs to prevent clogging of vehicles along the municipality’s already limited roads. – Ofelia C. Empian