Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 6) — Traffic along certain parts of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) slowed to a crawl on Maundy Thursday due to the high volume of vehicles.
The buildup of vehicles started at the northbound lane of Balintawak, Quezon City and continued until the Balintawak toll plaza.
As of 2 p.m., NLEX said the average speed of vehicles after the Balintawak toll plaza going to NLEX North Harbor Link Interchange was between 5 and 10 kilometers per hour.
Slow moving traffic was also noted on the northbound stretch of NLEX from San Simon, Pampanga to Mexico Lakeshore.
Robin Ignacio, head of the NLEX Corp. Traffic Operations Department, said they monitored traffic buildup starting at noon until 11 p.m. on Holy Wednesday. The volume of vehicles again increased starting at 2 a.m. on Thursday., he added.
“Ayon sa expectation natin, marami na Miyerkules ng hapon hanggang gabi, pero mas marami ng Huwebes ng umaga until afternoon,” he told CNN Philippines.
[Translation: Based on our expectation, while there would be a lot of vehicles from Wednesday afternoon to evening, the number would even be higher from Thursday morning to afternoon.]
Ignacio said more motorists are eager to travel since there are no more mobility restrictions related to COVID-19. He estimates the volume of vehicles passing through NLEX to increase between 10 percent and 15 percent during the Holy Week.
An average of 350,000 vehicles pass through NLEX and the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) on an ordinary day, Ignacio said.
“Volume lang talaga ito kasi wala naman tayong mga insidente na nakakapag-congest or nakaka-abala sa daloy ng traffic,” he said.
[Translation: This is really just volume because we haven’t had incidents leading to traffic congestion or disruption.]
To ease traffic congestion, the NLEX management has put up additional cash toll lanes for motorists without RFIDs. It is also offering free towing services for light vehicles until the nearest toll exit. This service is available until April 11, 6 a.m.
After Maundy Thursday, traffic is again expected to build up along NLEX on April 10, the last day of the long Holy Week break, until midnight of April 11.
Motorists are advised to install RFIDs and ensure they have adequate balance for a smoother trip.
