Brace Yourself: Skyway Stage 3 Construction at NLEX Balintawak to Start

Seems like EDSA traffic got extended.

People from the north, you might as well consider other roads to take when going to Metro Manila via the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) as early as now as the construction of the Skyway Stage 3 project in certain portions of the NLEX Balintawak will be on full operation this month.

The Skyway Stage 3--a project of the San Miguel Corporation-led Citra Central Expressway Corporation (CCEC)--is eyed to interconnect the NLEX with the South Luzon Expressway, from Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue in Makati City to Bagong Barrio, Caloocan City crossing the EDSA Balintawak cloverleaf.

Since the construction works will be done on NLEX Balintawak. affected areas of traffic will be the Balintawak Cloverleaf, Camachile, and Bagong Barrio, including the east and west service roads.

The target completion? December 2019.

Since carmageddon seems to be inevitable in the area, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and NLEX Corporation will implement a major rerouting plan to address the traffic issue in the area starting today, February 9, 11 PM.

Quezon City-bound NLEX road users may use Smart Connect Interchange heading to Mindanao Avenue. At the Mindanao intersection, turn right going to Quezon City to destination.

Private cars, vans, PUJs from Quirino Highway bound for EDSA via Camachile are advised to head to the Camachile Flyover, turn right towards West Service Road then turn right at EDSA. PUJs must take a U-turn at Biglang Awa, turn right at the Cloverleaf to A. Bonifacio (to Blumentritt) or take the southeast loop to return to Novaliches.

Trucks from Quirino Highway going to A. Bonifacio will not be allowed at Camachile, and are advised to use Mindanao Avenue then turn left at NLEX Mindanao entry going to Smart Connect Interchange towards NLEX southbound. The same scheme goes for trucks from Congressional to A. Bonifacio/Port Area.

Private cars and vans from EDSA Muñoz to Port Area are advised to take Monumento crossing Balintawak Cloverleaf, turn left at De Jesus Street, hit straight to C3 then at the C3 intersection, turn right to Port Area.

Aside from closing some lanes at NLEX Balintawak, the plan also includes closing the ramp from EDSA northbound to A. Bonifacio.

Private vehicles traversing NLEX going to Balintawak southbound could either choose their preferred routes, PUJs and UV Express units will follow their specific routes, while buses will keep on their designated franchise routes. On the other hand, trucks coming from NLEX will not be rerouted.

The MMDA and NLEX Corporation, in close coordination with CCEC and local government units, guarantee that traffic patrol officers and marshals will be deployed to manage the flow of vehicles within the construction area and alternate routes.

Directional traffic signs will also be put up at strategic locations to better guide motorists. Real-time traffic updates at the NLEX will be posted on electronic variable message signs and announced via social media accounts.

In a statement, MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia appealed for patience and understanding of the public.

"But we are also assuring them that MMDA, NLEX, and Skyway teams will exert all efforts to minimize travel delays despite the ongoing construction," he said.

For their part, NLEX Corporation Chief Operating Officer Raul Ignacio said that they are extending their support to the project that is meant to solve the traffic congestion in Metro Manila "as it is also one with the government in improving the country's transport and logistics industry."

In conclusion, Garcia expressed hopes that "with all these preparations in place, our motorists and commuters can plan their trips ahead and reach their destinations safe and on time."