NLEx braces for traffic surge on ‘undas’ break
The North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) Corp. is gearing up for an anticipated surge of nearly 475,000 vehicles using the tollways so families can visit their departed kin in north and central Luzon for “Undas” (All Saints’ Day) on Saturday.
The tollway operator expects an increase of 5 percent over the average daily vehicle volume of 451,961 using the three major expressways in the north—350,931 using NLEx; 80,449 on Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx); and 20,681 on NLEx Connector. This volume is expected until Nov. 3, as travelers return to Metro Manila.
24/7 monitoring
In a statement on Tuesday, Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC), the parent company of NLEx Corp., said it would implement enhanced traffic management, shoulder lane regrading, and motorist assistance through the reactivated “Biyaheng Arangkada,” a motorist assistance program, to ensure safe and convenient travel through the tollways during “Undas.”
Heavy traffic is expected afternoon of Oct. 29, afternoon of Oct. 30 to night of Oct. 31, morning of Nov. 1, afternoon of Nov. 2, and from early morning to noon of Nov. 3. To ease congestion, NLEx has regraded shoulder lanes in key areas to support counterflow operations, and motorists are advised to plan trips ahead and avoid peak hours.
From Oct. 30 to Nov. 3, more than 2,000 MPTC personnel will be on traffic, toll and emergency duties across NLEx, SCTEx, NLEx Connector, Cavite-Laguna Expressway (CALAx) and Manila-Cavite Expressway (Cavitex), including Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway (CCLEx) in Cebu province. Along with 24/7 traffic monitoring, the tollway management said it would coordinate with the Philippine National Police and local governments for travelers’ safety.
Maynilad and Smart Communications are also pitching in to make travel convenient during this period by offering free bottled water, Wi-Fi connection and charging stations in selected areas along the MPTC-operated tollways.
Motorists were advised to track real-time traffic through the MPT DriveHub app, which also allows radio frequency identification (RFID) reloading and balance inquiry.
Just last week, the government launched the “One RFID, All Tollways” system aimed at addressing motorists’ desire for seamless, cash-free travel through any of the expressways in Luzon and Metro Manila operated by MPTC and San Miguel Corp. (SMC) Tollways, using a single RFID tag and a single account.
SMC Tollways operate the Muntinlupa-Cavite Expressway, Naia Expressway (NAIAx), South Luzon Expressway (SLEx), Skyway, Southern Tagalog Arterial Road (Star Tollway), and Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEx). —CARMELA REYES-ESTROPE AND NAMI D. PADILLA
