NLEX, SCTEX Expect 10% Rise in Volume During Holidays

NLEX Corporation, the concessionaire of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SLEX), is expecting a 10-percent increase in the volume of traffic on the holidays. 

According to the company, the peak travel season started on the third week of December 2018. 

With the anticipated percent surge on traffic for the holidays is inevitable, NLEX Corporation is ready to implement the 'Safe Trip Mo Sagot Ko' (SMSK) motorist assistance program of the Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC)--the operator and developer of the NLEX and SCTEX--to ensure hassle-free travel during the holidays.

Traffic personnel have reportedly been rendering extended working hours since December 14 to assist motorists and closely monitor traffic conditions at Balintawak, Mindanao Avenue, Bocaue, Luisita, Tarlac, and Tipo toll plazas as well as at the SCTEX Mabalacat ramps and NLEX-SCTEX fuel stations. 

During the peak hours of December 14, 15, 21, 22, 28 and 29, the Balintawak Toll Plaza will open a maximum of 28 toll collection points while the Mindanao Avenue and Tarlac toll plazas will have a maximum of 10 and 28 toll collection points, respectively, to better accommodate motorists going to the provinces in the north. 

Aside from that, the Bocaue Toll Plaza will open 44 toll collection points during the same period.

Portabooths and portable toll collection handheld units will be used to lessen motorist waiting time at the toll plazas.

On December 25, 26, and 27, the Bocaue Toll Plaza will open about 50 to 60 toll collection points to serve motorists bound for Metro Manila. The set-up will be the same on January 1 and 2, 2019. 

The entry lanes of the Tarlac Toll Plaza will also be increased to five from the usual three to facilitate faster transactions during traffic surges. Toll tellers at the said plaza will also be ready to issue pre-encoded transit tickets to southbound motorists.

The additional toll lanes at Angeles (2), Mexico (1), San Fernando southbound entry (1) and San Fernando southbound exit (2) will also be operational in time for the holidays.

Free towing services to the nearest exit will be available for Class 1 vehicles from 6 AM of December 22 to 11:59 PM of December 23 and from 6 AM of January 1 to 11:59 PM of January 2, 2019.

The tollway company will also set up counterflow lanes in strategic areas to ensure smooth traffic flow in case of untoward incidents.