NLEX traffic eases on Holy Wednesday evening; passenger influx expected Thursday

North-bound motorists could experience traveling with ease as the flow of traffic along North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) on Wednesday evening has loosened up amid the Holy Week exodus. 

According to Nico Waje’s updated report in “Saksi”, the traffic along NLEX has normalized as compared to the situation earlier in the day.

The traffic along the expressway started to improve at around 5 p.m.

The NLEX management said the heavy traffic volume ahead of Maundy Thursday could have been caused by the half-day work in government offices, which allowed employees to leave early for their out-of-town trips.

It is also possible that motorists have learned to travel early to avoid the traffic rush.

“Taon-taong nararanasan nila yung sobrang bagal 'yung traffic natin dahil sa volume, mula hapon ng Miyerkules halos tuloy-tuloy ‘yun dahil madaling araw pa lang ng Huwebes hanggang hapon ng Huwebes talaga ganoon ang sitwasyon natin. So maaaring 'yung ating mga kababayan natin inagahan na nila 'yung pagbiyahe nila,” said said NLEX AVP for Traffic Operations Robin Ignacio.

(They have been experiencing slow traffic every year, starting from Wednesday afternoon and the traffic will continue until early morning on Thursday to the afternoon, this is the situation. So it is possible that our motorists decided to travel earlier.)

But, it was pointed out, that the situation along NLEX on Wednesday evening can be compared to traffic on normal days. The daily average of motorists traversing NLEX is around 350,000 on a normal day. 

“So technically marami na po tayong na-monitor na bumiyahe din pauwi ng kani-kanilang probinsya starting po noong Tuesday hanggang kanina po ng Wednesday siguro mga afternoon po,” said NLEX and Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway Section Head for Traffic Operation Liezel Uy.

(So technically we have monitored several motorists en route to their provinces from Tuesday until Wednesday afternoon.) 

Officials said the influx of travelers could increase at past midnight until Thursday noon as some private company workers will be coming from work. — Vince Angelo Ferreras/BAP, GMA Integrated News