By Manny Balbin/PNA
BOCAUE, Bulacan – As the Christmas and New Year holidays are fast approaching, the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) Corporation, concessionaire of NLEX-Subic Clark Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), will implement its “Safe Trip Mo Sagot Ko” (SMSK) motorist assistance program for the anticipated 10-percent surge in traffic volume.
The SMSK is the motorist assistance program of the Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC) to ensure hassle-free travel during holidays in NLEX-SCTEX.
Kit Ventura, MPTC assistant vice president for corporate communication, told the local media on Monday that with the peak travel season expected to start by the third week of this month, NLEX-SCTEX traffic personnel will render extended working hours for intensified operations.
“They will be prepared 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,” Ventura said.
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.
The Mindanao Avenue and Tarlac toll plazas, on the other hand, will have a maximum of 10 and 28 toll collection points, respectively.
“This is to better accommodate motorists going to the provinces in the north,” Ventura said.
Meanwhile, the Bocaue Toll Plaza will open 44 toll collection points during the same period.
Ventura also said that 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 Tarlac Toll Plaza will also be increased to five instead of 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,” he added.
The additional toll lanes at Angeles (two), Mexico (one), San Fernando southbound entry (one) and San Fernando southbound exit (two) 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 a.m. of December 22 to 11:59 p.m. of December 23 and from 6 a.m. of January 1 to 11:59 p.m. of January 2.
“There will also counter flow lanes to be set up in strategic areas to ensure smooth traffic flow in case of untoward incidents,” Ventura said.
