Traffic in NLEx mars Christmas Eve travel to provinces

MANILA, Philippines—Traffic marred the Christmas Eve rush of those going home to the province via the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) on Wednesday.

In NLEx, an accident involving four vehicles caused heavy traffic along the northbound lane in the Valenzuela exit early morning. In its official Twitter account, the Toll Regulatory Board (TRB) said as of 3 p.m., the line of vehicles stretched from the Valenzuela Interchange to Smart Interchange by about 3 km.

NLEX Traffic Queuing NB stretch from Valenzuela Interchange to Smart Interchange approx of 3km pic.twitter.com/jUGwxcta6C

— TollRegulatoryBoard (@TRBph) December 24, 2014

In the South Luzon Expressway (SLEx), meanwhile, traffic is light for commuters as of 3 p.m., according to the expressway’s official Twitter account.

SLEX(MaTES)update as of 3:00PM:Alabang-Sto Tomas mainline NB/SB(L).Calamba TP NB(L)SB(LM).Ayala TP NB/SB(LM).Alabang Viaduct NB/SB(L).

— SLEX – MaTES (@OfficialSLEX) December 24, 2014

Traffic was briefly stalled in SLEx as a container truck rammed into the concrete barriers along the northbound lane near Magallanes interchange, Radyo Inquirer 990AM reported.

The accident snarled traffic causing vehicles to pile up all the way to the ground level toll plaza of Skyway. The truck has since been cleared.

In the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx), traffic is light to moderate along the Mabalacat town plaza as of 3:08 p.m.

SCTEX Traffic Update : As of 03:08 PM light to moderate traffic at Mabalacat toll plaza. Other Toll Plazas are fast moving. Drive Safely!

— NLEX Corporation (@NLEXexpressways) December 24, 2014

In Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway (TPLEx), traffic is light to moderate at the Mabalacat toll plaza entry exit at around 3:30 p.m.

TPLEX update: Mabalacat toll plaza entry exit (LM). Rest of SCTEX NB SB and toll plazas (L)

— TollRegulatoryBoard (@TRBph) December 24, 2014

In the Skyway, traffic is light both on the north and southbound lanes of Alabang to Magallanes/Buendia as of 4:17 p.m., according to the highway’s Twitter account.

At Grade/Elevated Traffic Update as of 4:17 PM: Alabang to Magallanes/Buendia NB/SB: Light

— SKYWAY SOMCO (@SkywaySOMCO) December 24, 2014

The traffic was also affected by the heavy rains caused by the diffused tail-end of a cold front.

Earlier, the state weather bureau Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) on Wednesday issued a yellow rainfall warning in Metro Manila and nearby provinces Rizal, Laguna, Cavite, Batangas, Quezon, Bulacan, and Bataan. This has been lifted as of 3 p.m.