Motorists crowd expressways en route to Undas destinations

With many of them managing to knock off work only after noon, Filipino motorists and commuters again crowded the main roads from Metro Manila to the provinces on Friday.

 

Traffic at the North Luzon Expressway stretched for 1.5 kilometers, while the South Luzon Expressway is bracing for the bulk of vehicles on Friday night or Saturday morning, according to reports on "24 Oras."

 

At the NLEX, GMA News' Ruth Cabal reported traffic was slow as of 7 p.m., with the queue of vehicles at the Balintawak toll gate reaching up to 1.5 kilometers earlier at Friday afternoon.

 

Traffic was also heavy from EDSA to NLEX in the afternoon, partly due to the volume of vehicles and the number of passengers waiting for buses.

 

Some buses did not even maneuver to the roadside to accommodate passengers, many of whom said they waited as long as four hours for a ride.

 

Worsening the traffic was an eight-vehicle smashup near the Balintawak toll plaza Friday afternoon.

 

Also, traffic piled up near the Bocaue exit due to a religious group's event at the Philippine Arena.

 

NLEX management deployed traffic marshals, anticipating a 10- to 15-percent increase in the number of vehicles at Undas.

 

The NLEX estimated about 180,000 vehicles pass through the expressway a day.

 

"Between 3 to 4 p.m., nagkaroon tayo ng more than 4,000 pumasok per hour sa Balintawak, and more than 1,200 sa Mindanao," said Robin Ignacio, manager of the NLEX's traffic management and safety department.

 

The NLEX management expects traffic to peak again Saturday afternoon, this time at the Metro Manila-bound part, as Filipinos return.

 

The traffic could spill over to Monday.

 

SLEX

 

At the SLEX, GMA News' Micaela Papa reported a buildup at the Calamba toll plaza in Laguna, but added SLEX management expects the bulk of vehicles between midnight and early Saturday.

 

"We'll be expecting some vehicle surge tomorrow or let's see late tonight," said SLEX traffic and security manager retired Col. Inocencio Silbol.

 

Expected to see the heaviest traffic are exits at:

 

- Carmona, Cavite

- Calamba, Laguna

- Sto. Tomas, Batangas

 

Motorists needing assistance may call the SLEX hotline at 0917-6877539.

 

NAIA-3

 

Meanwhile, at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3, GMA News' Marisol Abdurahman reported passengers waiting for their flight lined up as early as before dawn.

 

By noon, traffic at roads leading to the NAIA had reached a standstill.

 

The report said NAIA-3 management estimated up to 52,000 passengers passed through departure and arrival areas Friday, more than last year.

 

NAIA management added security checks and x-ray machines.

 

There was brief tension when a man approached police and asked them to check his baggage for suspected drugs. The inspection for drugs turned out negative. —Joel Locsin/NB, GMA News