NORTHBOUND The operator of North Luzon Expressway says it is prepared to handle the volume of vehicles expected to use the highway during the All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day holiday. —GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE
CITY OF MEYCAUAYAN—Expecting a heavy influx of motorists heading to the northern provinces for “Undas” (All Saints’ and All Souls’ Day) break next weekend, the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) Corp. on Thursday said it would deploy more patrol crew and put up additional toll lanes to ease traffic congestion.
The company’s motorist assistance program, dubbed “Safe Trip Mo, Sagot Ko,” will run from Oct. 25 to Nov. 4 to ensure the safety and convenience of vacationers, according to Luigi Bautista, NLEx Corp. president.
He said they were anticipating a 10-percent increase in the average daily volume of 250,000 vehicles using the expressway during the weekend break.
Lawyer Romulo Quimbo Jr., NLEX Corp. senior vice president for communication and stakeholder management, said they would undertake contingency measures to address long queues at the toll areas, like adding electronic lanes.
He said four RFID (radio-frequency identification) and EasyTrip lanes would be put up for northbound vehicles while seven electronic toll lanes would be added for southbound vehicles.
The NLEx Corp. will also install reloading stations for these electronic toll lanes in Balintawak and Bocaue that will be open from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Quimbo said they would also put up road safety signs as well as monitor speed and lane management operations at strategic areas. —CARMELA REYES-ESTROPE