Baguio Landslides - Stay Away!

[OnMyWay]

We were headed to Baguio this weekend and I am so glad we cancelled due to all the rain.  Kennon road was closed last week

 

http://news.yahoo.com/2-dead-kennon-landslide-000000671.html;_ylt=A0SO8yjeXatV6K4Aw0tXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTExbDBrcXNoBGNvbG8DZ3ExBHBvcwMzBHZ0aWQDVUlDMV8xBHNlYwNzcg--

 

and it appears it is open now, but still very hazardous.  I would never drive Kennon during a severe rainy period.  Marcos is now closed too.

 

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/524734/news/regions/landslide-causes-closure-of-marcos-highway-in-benguet 

 

With Kennon and Marcos both out of service, they recommend taking Naguillan Road, which is much farther north and out of the way for travel to/from the south.  That means all trucks, buses and most cars will be on that road.

 

Traffic must be a nightmare.  Stay away from Baguio until this is all cleared up.

 

The article above says Marcos would reopen Sunday afternoon, but the article below says the slide is 100 meters long and 6 meters high.  I can't imagine them getting a slide that big cleared in a day.  More like a week!

 

http://baguioheraldexpress.com/news/region/marcos-highway-temporarily-closed-to-traffic

 

 

 

 

 

 

[chris49]

Whole north right now On My Way. On the road you took up from La Union, a few months ago, there at Santa, Narvacan District. A large old tree got uprooted and blocked the National Hwy 4 hours, one lane was opened earlier, but imagine that also.

 

Secondary roads, nah, I was going up to Benguet, 2011, and some quite large boulders had come down, although roads were passable it did look extremely dangerous.

 

I had a bike ride this morning. Not much to see, main problem has been flooding up to the roadside but not encroaching. Up to Saturday PM, until Sunday, today I would not have travelled. Based on what I saw this AM, I would travel locally, but I would get more details about the road blockages and diversions. EDIT: from last Monday until today I would not have travelled on the sheer volume of rain alone.

 

Had an Aussie arrive Friday, on his way up to Benguet to meet his on line gf...if you can imagine that, the guy has been on hold in Manila 2 days now.

 

If what you are talking about is Marcos after Urdnadeta, on the final approach to Baguio, good road, but I would not venture there currently, some possibility of more slides and big boulders do come down.

Edited July 19, 2015 by chris49

[OnMyWay]

If what you are talking about is Marcos after Urdnadeta, on the final approach to Baguio

 

Yes, that is the one that is closed now.  Actually Kennon and Marcos split off National Hwy around Rosario, probably 20-30 k north of Urdaneta.

[OnMyWay]

On a side note, we had our first rain free day in over 2 weeks today, so maybe we can dry out a bit.  Baguio and the north need the same!

[chris49]

Yes no rain today and thanks for the correction on Rosario-Urdnadeta, I know it well, but usually mix it up.

[earthdome]

I miss many things about Baguio, but not the rainy season!!! Last year Baguio got off light with much lower than normal summer rains.

[OnMyWay]

After 2 postponements, the last due to the weather and landslides last weekend, we drove up to Baguio last night.  The weather was good and Marcos was fine.  It was dark, so I'm not sure where the big landslide was, but I saw some areas near Baguio that looked like they had been cleaned up.  Bro-in-law confirmed that the big slide was fairly close to Baguio.

 

No rain here right now.  Calm and overcast.  A balmy 22 C.

[OnMyWay]

Another reason to stay away from any weekend in Baguio is the traffic.  It is terrible now.  2.5 years ago when I first started visiting it was not bad.  Now the new expressway and local construction is a double whammy.  I don't know if it can recover.  There are small to medium road construction projects all over the city that should have been coordinated and timed, but were not.  The expressway is feeding way too many vehicles on the weekends, and traffic is really bad.  Our family hear says they try not to go out on weekends anymore because it just takes too long to do anything.

 

After you get to the top of the hill on Marcos, there is a lot of construction down into the round about.  Combined with Kennon being dangerous this time of year, the traffic on Marcos (near the city) is really bad.

[Jake]

Another reason to stay away from any weekend in Baguio is the traffic.  It is terrible now.  2.5 years ago when I first started visiting it was not bad.  Now the new expressway and local construction is a double whammy.  I don't know if it can recover.  There are small to medium road construction projects all over the city that should have been coordinated and timed, but were not.  The expressway is feeding way too many vehicles on the weekends, and traffic is really bad.  Our family hear says they try not to go out on weekends anymore because it just takes too long to do anything.

 

After you get to the top of the hill on Marcos, there is a lot of construction down into the round about.  Combined with Kennon being dangerous this time of year, the traffic on Marcos (near the city) is really bad.

Hey Don,

 

Thank you for another boots on the ground report about central Luzon.  It has been awhile since I was last up there in 1981.

Besides the cooler climates, fresh strawberries and silver handicrafts.....what are some of the Baguio's main attractions now?  

[chris49]

 

Another reason to stay away from any weekend in Baguio is the traffic.  It is terrible now.  2.5 years ago when I first started visiting it was not bad.  Now the new expressway and local construction is a double whammy.  I don't know if it can recover.  There are small to medium road construction projects all over the city that should have been coordinated and timed, but were not.  The expressway is feeding way too many vehicles on the weekends, and traffic is really bad.  Our family hear says they try not to go out on weekends anymore because it just takes too long to do anything.

 

After you get to the top of the hill on Marcos, there is a lot of construction down into the round about.  Combined with Kennon being dangerous this time of year, the traffic on Marcos (near the city) is really bad.

Hey Don,

 

Thank you for another boots on the ground report about central Luzon.  It has been awhile since I was last up there in 1981.

Besides the cooler climates, fresh strawberries and silver handicrafts.....what are some of the Baguio's main attractions now?  

 

 

 

1981 was still in the golden era of Baguio. Cool weather and only a little bit busy on the weekend and during 2 months of summer.

 

I played a golf event there in 2011. It was idyllic there at Camp John Hay and Baguio Country Club, but any venture to town even SM was a nightmare.

 

The place has been currently overrun by Koreans and Chines and I would not live there or even go there currently.

 

SISTERS MARKET: selling handicrafts, local delicacies and notably some of the best jams and marmalades you can find. However on weekend it is extremely difficult to get into, and pickpockets, who seem to roam here in the north, might be a problem.

 

On the plus side Baguio has some nice accommodation deals, 5 Star runs cheaper here, 5000/night which is currently 7000-8000 elsewhere. Or small hotels with a large fireplace and some very good in house dining. Or even some kind of home stay as a lot of houses have been split up for rental.

 

Negative, cool air is nice, but from October to Feb-March the place is downright freezing, I did not enjoy that at all.