NLEX gets ready for 470,000 motorists heading to north Luzon for ‘Undas’

BUMPER TO BUMPER Traffic is heavy along the northbound lane of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) in Valenzuela City and Meycauayan, Bulacan in this photo taken in December 2023. A similar high volume of commuters is also expected for those from Metro Manila heading to Central and Northern Luzon in time for the All Saints Day and All Souls Day commemoration on Nov. 1 and Nov. 2 this year. – CARMELA REYES-ESTROPE .

BOCAUE, BULACAN—The North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) Corp. began preparing on Thursday for an anticipated influx of over 470,000 motorists traveling to Central Luzon and North Luzon provinces in time for the observance of “Undas,” or the All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day on Friday and Saturday.

According to Robin Ignacio, NLEx traffic operations head, around 1,500 personnel—including traffic, toll gate and technical support staff—were deployed to manage traffic along NLEx, the NLEx Connector and the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEx).

With the usual daily volume of 333,000, 19,000 and 78,000 vehicles on these three expressways, respectively, a 10-percent increase is expected, pushing up traffic to about 473,000 vehicles.

To facilitate smoother travel, NLEx personnel would monitor traffic, provide incident response and implement enhanced traffic management measures, particularly during peak periods.

High traffic volumes are expected on these routes from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Thursday and Friday for northbound traffic, and from Saturday (3 p.m. to 10 p.m.) and Sunday (2 p.m.) through next Monday (8 a.m.) for southbound motorists.

Emergency and medical response teams would also be strategically stationed along the expressways to ensure a seamless travel experience.

The Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation would offer free towing for Class 1 vehicles to the nearest exit from Thursday at 6 a.m. through next Monday at 6 a.m.