Manila North Tollways gears up ahead of All Saints’ Day

North Luzon Expressway. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines—The Manila North Tollways Corp. (MNTC) and the Toll Regulatory Board said Tuesday they have prepared several measures to address the expected increase in number of motorists heading for the provinces starting next week for All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day.

Glenn Campos, MNTC assistant vice president for Traffic and Operations Management, said that starting October 31 to November 3, “Safe Trip Mo, Sagot Ko” motorist assistance program, which aims to intensify services in NLEX and CAVITEX, will be activated by providing additional manpower to enhance its services.

Under the program, motorists can avail themselves of free first aid treatment, 24-hour mechanic services, as well as WiFi connection in designated locations along the expressway.

In its traffic management plan, on the other hand, Campos said additional toll tellers, and traffic management and security personnel will be deployed in response to the expected heavy traffic volume during the long break.

Ambulant tellers will be on stand-by at the Balintawak, Mindanao Avenue, and Dau toll plazas on October 31 and November 1, and at the Bocaue Toll Plaza from November 2 to 4.

On October 31 and November 1, five spare lanes will be opened in Dau, then at the Bocaue toll plaza on November 3 and 4 for cash paying motorists using Class 1 vehicles.

NLEX said traffic is expected to build up at the Balintawak, Mindanao and Dau toll plazas in the afternoon of October 31 to early morning of November 1.

And as the motorists travel back to Metro Manila, NLEX said traffic would likely build up at the Bocaue Toll Plaza on November 2 to 4.

The 160,000 average daily number of vehicles in NLEX will probably increase by 10 to 15 percent for the four-day break, NLEX said.

“We will continue our close coordination with local government units, the Philippine National Police and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority,” Campos said.

In toll operations, Campos said traffic advisory signs would be installed along NLEX to warn motorists of traffic build-ups in major toll plazas.

Electronic Ambulant Cards would also be used for faster cash transactions.

NLigtas mobile application

Roberto Bontia, MNTC vice president for Operations, meanwhile presented NLEX’s mobile application.

The free android mobile application tagged NLigtas (North Luzon Integrated Guide and Travel Advisory System), Bontia said, would provide users with real-time travel information and traffic situation along NLEX from Balintawak to Dau.

The application uses color coding to specify the traffic condition in a particular area, with green indicating that traffic is “light,” yellow meaning “moderate,” orange-red meaning “moderate to heavy,” and red meaning “heavy.”

It would also guide users to the most accessible customer service center.

“Motorists will have a more reliable travel time resulting in on-time, safe and convenient trips . . . [they] can adjust their travel plans in relation to traffic conditions such as special events or lane closures,” Bontia said.

NLigtas, which was developed last year by the Traffic and Information Technology groups of NLEX, can be downloaded at www.tollways.net.ph, he said.

Suspension of road works 

From October 29 to November 4, MNTC said maintenance works would be limited along roadsides and shoulders from October 29 to November 4.

Normal road work repairs will resume on November 5