Thursday, November 06, 2008 Mayor wants wider Mabalacat portion of NLEx By Chris Navarro
MABALACAT -- Mayor Marino Morales is urging officials of the Manila North Tollways Corporation (MNTC), concessionaire of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx), to widen the Mabiga-Sta. Inez portion of the toll road to prevent another fatal vehicular mishap along the area.
Morales said he already asked the Municipal Council to pass a resolution urging MNTC officials headed by its president, Jose de Jesus, to study their proposal to add two more lanes along the Mabiga-Sta. Inez section of NLEx.
The mayor said this will make the entire Pampanga stretch a four-lane highway and would lessen, if not prevent, tragic vehicular accidents similar to the one involving a Fermina Express Bus and a Toyota Revo last November 1 where five persons were killed and 51 others were wounded.
"It was a hard lesson learned. We must be proactive because this involves the safety and security of motorists and the riding public. It is more practical and convenient for motorists using an expressway to travel on a four-lane highway, instead of a two-lane road. This might add additional costs to MNTC but it would be nothing if compared to the lives and properties we save," Morales said.
At present, the five-kilometer stretch of the NLEx along the said portion has only two lanes, making it an "accident prone" area since heavy vehicles like passenger buses and trucks would occupy a considerable space when passing the said portion.
The mayor noted that with the operation of the Mabalacat-Spur Road going to and from Subic, a heavy volume of traffic is expected along the Mabiga-Sta. Inez portion of NLEx, adding that it is just practical to construct two more additional lanes.
