We’re not among the brave souls who’ve planned to spend the Christmas holidays in Baguio, but for those of you who are, here’s something that might make the trip easier: Kennon Road has been reopened to two-way traffic for light vehicles effective 12am of December 24, 2023.
The decision to reopen the mountain road was made by the MBLISTT Council, composed of the governor of Benguet, the mayors of Baguio, La Trinidad, Itogon, Sablan, Tuba, and Tublay, and representatives of key industries, to help ease traffic congestion to and from Baguio during the holidays.
Public utility and private light vehicles with a maximum weight of 10 tons are allowed to use Kennon Road, but the only public utility vehicles allowed are UV Express units plying the Baguio-Rosario route. A maximum speed limit of of 40kph shall be enforced at all times.
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There shall be no parking allowed along the side of the road, and at one-lane portions, authorized personnel shall be stationed round the clock to direct traffic. Finally, the road shall be closed to traffic immediately “in case of inclement weather or imminent weather disturbance, ground shaking, or earthquakes.”
At 33.53km, Kennon Road is the shortest way up to Baguio. The 118-year-old mountain road’s structural integrity has worsened due to earthquakes, landslides, typhoons, and over a century of use, and has been mostly closed to traffic except for residents along its length.
Advisory: Kennon Road reopening on December 24, 2023
