NLEX ready for Christmas, New Year traffic —management

The North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) is ready for the expected high volume of vehicles this holiday season as motorists head to their hometowns or to Metro Manila for Christmas and New Year, a company official said on Saturday. 

"Mula kahapon, itinigil na po namin ang lahat ng roadworks. Open na ang lahat ng driving lanes maliban na lang sa southbound direction ng Candaba Viaduct. May talagang naiwang sarado [na lane]. Hanggang early next year na ito," NLEX Expressways senior traffic manager Robin Ignacio said in an interview on Dobol B TV.

(Starting yesterday, we stopped all roadworks. All driving lanes are now open except for some in the southbound direction of Candaba Viaduct. There will be closed lanes there until early next year.)

"Handa na kami sa NLEX. Umpisa na kahapon, nagdagdag na kami ng deployment [ng personnel]," he added.

(We are ready at NLEX. Starting yesterday, we increased the deployment [of our personnel].)

Ignacio said management expects traffic to get heavier on the expressway as the holidays draw nearer.

"Inaasahang mag-uumpisa na ang mga kababayang pauwi ng probinsiya maging 'yung mga papuntang Maynila," he said.

(We are expecting that our countrymen will start going to their provinces and to Metro Manila.)

As of 7 a.m. on Saturday, there were lines of motorists at the cash lanes for entry to NLEX at Balintawak, Mindanao Avenue, and Karuhatan toll plazas, Ignacio said.

However, at RFID lanes, flow of traffic was smooth.

The average daily number of vehicles using NLEX is 280,000, and 60,000 for the Subic–Clark–Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), Ignacio said.

However, during the December 16 to January 3 holiday season, the volume of vehicles is expected to increase by 10% on a daily average, he added.

The peak days of holiday traffic are expected to be on Friday, December 23 (afternoon to midnight), Thursday, December 29, and Monday, January 2 (afternoon onward), Ignacio said.

"Sana tingnan ng ating motorista ang situation ng expressway at sana huwag nilang sabayan ang peak days," he said.

(We are hoping that motorists would check the situation of the expressway [before driving] and try not to travel on peak days.)

He also encouraged motorists to have RFID installed on their vehicles as this will save them time at the toll plazas.

Ignacio however said NLEX is ready to add toll cash collection points if the need arises.

He also encouraged motorists to check the condition of their vehicles before driving, and also ensure that drivers have had enough rest.

Motorists needing assistance may contact the NLEX hotline at 135000, Ignacio said. —KG, GMA Integrated News