NLEX-SCTEX single toll system halted as traffic improves

The integrated payment system for North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) was closed Thursday afternoon as the flow of traffic improved.

In an interview over dzBB radio, NLEX media relations officer Kiko Dagohoy said the express exit scheme” ended at 4 p.m. It was put in place Wednesday noon.

Under the scheme, motorists will pay their toll fees at SCTEX Mabalacat instead of NLEX Dau toll plaza.

The single toll fee system will resume on Black Saturday and Easter Sunday, April 4 and 5, along the southbound lanes of the Mabalacat and Dau toll plazas to accommodate motorists returning to Metro Manila, Dagohoy said.

As of 3:56 p.m., a queue of 15 vehicles per lane has built up along the northbound lane of Mabalacat toll plaza, according to a tweet by the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB).

SCTEX update: Mabalacat TP entry 15 veh/lane. Tipo exit 10 veh/lane.Tarlac Central 15 veh/lane. Rest of @SCTEx_Travel toll plazas (L)

— TollRegulatoryBoard (@TRBSAFE) April 2, 2015

A queue of 10 vehicles per lane was also noted at Tipo exit while 15 vehicles per lane have been spotted at the Tarlac Central Exit.

The traffic flow for the rest of toll plazas along SCTEX remains light.

Dagohoy estimates around 230,000 vehicles per day will pass through NLEX during the Holy Week break, up from the normal daily average of 190,000.

For faster travel, he encouraged motorists to avail themselves of discounted “Express Exit” prepaid cards if they are going to Subic or Tarlac.

“Kung kayo ay Class 1 vehicle going to Subic or Tarlac, pwedeng mabili ang ‘Express Exit’ cards sa mga gasoline stations [along NLEX] pero ito ay magagamit lamang habang ipinapatupad ang Express Exit scheme,” he said.

The discounted Express Exit cards are priced as follows:

• P345 for the NLEX to SCTEX Subic route (original price: P363)

• P264 for the NLEX to SCTEX Tarlac route (original price: P277)

• P208 for the NLEX Dau to Bocaue route (original price: P218).

Starting April 2, NLEX offered free towing services for Class 1 vehicles stranded along the expressway from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. The public service will also be offered on Black Saturday and Easter Sunday.

The towed vehicles will be brought to the nearest gas station along the expressway. – Xian Arcangel/VS, GMA News