MABALACAT CITY -- The Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC) has announced several measures it will implement to ensure a safe and convenient travel for motorists during the observance of "Undas" or All Saints' and All Souls' Day.
During the Safe Trip Mo Sagot Ko (SMSK) launching Thursday, October 24, MPTC officials cited enhancements and other preparations for Undas at NLEX, SCTEX and Cavitex where 15 to 20 percent surge in the traffic volume is expected.
In preparation for the expected increase in traffic volume this Undas season, the MPTC is again implementing SMSK to enhance traffic management and toll collection services.
From October 25 to November 4, NLEX-SCTEX traffic operations personnel will closely monitor and manage the anticipated influx of motorists in Balintawak, Mindanao Avenue, Bocaue, Sta. Ines, Tarlac, and Tipo toll plazas. Additional patrol and incident response teams will be fielded in strategic areas to immediately assist motorists. Speed and lane management teams will also be on heightened alert to enforce traffic discipline for road safety.
On the peak periods of October 26, 27, 28, 30, 31, November 1, and 2 the Balintawak Toll Plaza will open a maximum of 24 toll collection points, while Mindanao Avenue, Tarlac, and Tipo toll plazas will open a maximum of 10, 15, and 6 toll collection points, respectively, to lessen motorist waiting time at the toll plazas.
From November 1 to 4, the Bocaue Toll Barrier will have a maximum of 55 collection points for Manila-bound motorists. Toll tellers at the Tarlac Toll Plaza will be ready to issue pre-encoded transit tickets to motorists for faster transactions.
During the same period, Cavitex will deploy more patrol teams to manage the traffic and assist motorists.
Construction along the mainline road at the NLEX-SCTEX-Cavitex will be suspended from October 24 to November 4, at 9 a.m., unless safety repairs are necessary.
MPTC and its partners will also set up SMSK Motorist Camps and provide free calls, Wi-Fi, drinking water, basic mechanic services and first aid treatment at designated locations along the expressways.
The SMSK will also offer 24-hour free towing services to the nearest exit for Class 1 vehicles from October 30, at 6 a.m., to November 4, at 6 a.m.
Real-time traffic situation will be posted on the Facebook accounts of NLEX Corporation and Cavitex (Official) from October 30 to November 4.
Hotlines (NLEX-SCTEX: 1-35000; Cavitex: 165-8888; Cavitex C5 Link: 1-5000) will also be ready to address customer concerns.
MPTC also provided update on ongoing traffic improvement initiatives and bares preparations for the Undas break to highlight its preparedness to handle increased traffic volume.
Expansion projects
Construction on the 2.6-kilometer NLEX Harbor Link Segment 10 C3-R10 Section, which stretches from new Caloocan Interchange along 5th Avenue/C3 Road, Caloocan City to Radial Road 10, Navotas City is progressing at 45 percent. When completed, transport logistics sectors will greatly benefit from the direct access to NLEX from the R10 and vice-versa.
NLEX Corporation is also implementing the capacity expansion of the 8.2-km Subic Freeport Expressway (SFEX) to better accommodate the growing number of motorists traveling the Subic Bay Freeport, and undertaking the initial works for the 8-km NLEX Connector that will extend the NLEX southward from the end of NLEX Harbor Link Segment 10 in C3/5thAvenue, Caloocan City to PUP Sta. Mesa, Manila.
Meanwhile, the new Tambubong Interchange in Bocaue, Bulacan is being built. Set to open in November, it will serve as an alternative access for motorists coming from NLEX going to Bocaue, Sta. Maria, Pandi, and Norzagaray and vice versa, bypassing the usual heavy traffic situation at Bocaue Interchange.
The company is also bolstering the service capacity of Clark South, Clark North, San Miguel, and Tarlac toll plazas by adding new lanes to further improve customer processing time at the SCTEX.
Over at the south, the MPCALA Holdings is set to complete by the end of the month the first three sections of the Cavite-Laguna Expressway (Calax), from Mamplasan to Sta. Rosa, Laguna. Once the entire 45-kilometer alignment is completed, it will ease traffic congestion in Governor's Drive, Aguinaldo Highway and Sta. Rosa-Tagaytay Road.
Second phase enhancements at the Cavitex, which include widening of bridges in Parañaque, Las Piñas, and Wawa, are targeted for completion in May next year. Work on the remaining 5.5-kilometer segment of the Cavitex C5 Link Expressway is also scheduled to start this November.
Toll and traffic systems enhancements
Innovations continue at MPTC expressways to boost customer experience. Just recently, 11 more exclusive RFID lanes were made available at NLEX, six of which are located at Bocaue Barrier and five at Balintawak Barrier, increasing the total number of exclusive electronic toll collection lanes to 40.
Since October 15, EasyTrip RFID drive thru reloading lanes have been opened for Class 1 or light vehicles at lane NO4 in Balintawak and lane X06 in Bocaue, from 5 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Meanwhile, additional variable message signs providing useful and updated traffic information will be installed by November this year at NLEX Bocaue southbound, and Pulilan northbound and southbound.
SMSK is co-presented by Caltex and supported by Shell, Prestone, PLDT, Smart, Maynilad, AAP, and media partners TV5, The Philippine Star, Manila Bulletin, Business World, Manila Standard, and The Daily Tribune.