Heavy traffic on SLEX as workers remove tanker

Authorities had to temporarily suspend efforts yesterday to remove a liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) tanker that plunged into shanties below a bridge in Biñan, Laguna, to relieve the worsening traffic build-up along the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX).

Manny Prades, of the Philippine National Construction Corp. (PNCC), said the influx of vehicles on the northbound lane had to be eased first before the operation could continue.

The clearing operation, he added, should be completed before 5 p.m. to prevent traffic from worsening once more.

The PNCC, together with NRG Corp., the LPG tanker’s owner, was taking extreme caution to remove the truck because gas has been seeping out of it.

"There’s leakage in the tank. And mufflers and vehicles give off small sparks that (can) ignite the tanker’s fuel. We want to avoid a disaster," Prades said.

Traffic on both the northbound and southbound lanes of the expressway would be brought to a full stop when the operation resumes.

The tanker has to be lifted onto a flatbed truck after which it will be escorted by the police out of the expressway.

It fell off the Calabuso Bridge in Barangay Sto. Tomas and landed on shanties after it was hit by a van last Saturday.

The van also hit a Toyota Corona, which spun around and slammed against the railing of the bridge.

The incident left one dead, 52-year-old Rosita Orense, and six others injured.