NLEX-SCTEX integration speed up traffic during the Holy Week

The recent integration of the NLEX and SCTEX greatly helped in managing the surge in traffic volume at the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and Subic Clark Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) at the just concluded Holy Week exodus to Central and North Luzon.

The Manila North Tollways Corporation (MNTC) reported that motorists experienced light-to -moderate traffic flow through in the whole stretch of NLEX-SCTEX, except at the peak of the Lenten Season, last March 24 and 27 when traffic hit 275,000 and 260,000, respectively, when traffic became really heavy.

SCTEX portion going to Subic Bay Freeport (file photo)

MNTC traffic data indicated vehicle entries rose to 275,000 from 263,000 in 2015. “Without integration, this kind of vehicle volume could have created a worse traffic situation on the country’s two premier expressways.

“Travel to the North Luzon was a breeze this year with the integration of NLEX and SCTEX into one seamless road network. The decreased number of toll plaza stops to two made travel to the north faster and more convenient for motorists,” said MNTC president Rodrigo Franco.

The NLEX-SCTEX Integration unified the NLEX and SCTEX toll collection systems into a single system, reducing toll collection stops to two instead of five from Balintawak to Subic and back, instead of four from Balintawak to Tarlac and back.

The integration also introduced other payment option at SCTEX since it now features electronic toll collection through Easytrip.

“This was the first Holy Week that we had the NLEX and SCTEX integrated, more system improvements are on the way to further provide comfort and convenience to motorists,” said Franco.

Aside from the integration of the two expressways, MNTC also attributed the manageable traffic flow to the efficient traffic schemes.

“On Maundy Thursday, we implemented counter-flow in San Simon to address the traffic build-up caused by high volume of vehicles going to the provinces,” explained Franco, adding that “additional toll collection points at Bocaue Toll Plaza were in placed on Black Saturday and Easter Sunday to accommodate motorists returning to Manila.” (Manila Bulletin)

http://www.mb.com.ph/nlex-sctex-integration-speed-up-traffic-during-the-holy-week/