Circumferential road to boost tourism, spur eco development

THE BAGUIO-La Trinidad-ItogonSablan-Tuba-Tublay (BLISTT) outer ring circumferential road will provide faster travel time, decongest city roads, boost tourism and spur economic development.

Department of Public Works and Highways Cordillera regional director Nerie Bueno said the circumferential road which links Baguio and the five Benguet towns has an approximate length of 152 kilometers, of which about 82 kilometers of existing road are left to be concreted. This is expected to be finished by April this year.

The bypass road also includes two bridges and replacement of an existing temporary bridge to permanent bridge to render it passable to all types of vehicles, Bueno explained.

When completed, travel time will be lessened by 50-60 percent compared to when going through the central business district (CBD) of the city.

Senior Superintendent Ramil Saculles, Baguio City Police director is delighted to hear the good news for it will benefit the motorists and the riding public given that traffic management is the number one concern of the city police.

The volume of vehicles going around the city is increasing and our road network in the CBD remains the same as there is for no space for expansion, Saculles said.

For her part, Marie Venus Tan regional director of the Department of Tourism said vacationers will visit more destinations with the interconnection of Baguio and the nearby the municipalities.

Time is of the essence when you travelling so with this development we expect more tourists to come to Baguio and in the Cordillera, Tan said.