Safety rating of Agoo-Baguio road improves—Singson

The safety rating of what’s once considered a high-risk road leading to Baguio City has improved with the integration of engineering countermeasures. 

Public Works Secretary Rogelio L. Singson said that the construction and installation of safety devices at Agoo-Baguio City Road via Marcos Highway was a pilot project under the International Road Assessment Program (Irap) demonstration corridor.

Based on the result of the post-construction star rating, the installation of the various road safety elements showed significant improvements with three star ratings and greater increase from 2 percent to 85 percent for vehicle occupants, 2 percent to 66 percent for motorcyclists, 11 percent to 95 percent for pedestrians and 5 percent to 67 percent for bicyclists

Singson said that the selected national road section based in the previous Irap survey prior to the engineering intervention yielded 1 to 2 Star Safety Rating and is considered a very high risk road for vehicle occupants, motorcyclists, bicyclists and pedestrians for every 100 meter section.

Pavement and drainage improvement works and installation and construction of road safety devices along Agoo-Baguio City Road via Marcos Highway were funded under the Motor Vehicle Users Charge Fund.

Concrete barriers on curve sections and ravine, construction of concrete road shoulder, concrete covered canal, downgrading of section where frequent accidents happened, and safety signages installation and thermoplastics painting are cost-effective road safety countermeasures to minimize if not totally prevent death and serious injuries.