Holy Week traffic measures readied along expressways

As thousands of Metro Manilans troop to the north during the Holy Week, measures are being readied to ease traffic along the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) from April 6 (Holy Tuesday) to April 12 (Easter Monday).

The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Toll Regulatory Board (TRB), Philippine National Construction Corp. (PNCC) and Manila North Tollways Corp. are joining hands for the holiday rush.

Authorities are estimating that a total of 193,000 motorists are heading to the north for the Lenten break.

Aside from the traffic plan, the yearly Lakbay Alalay program will provide emergency medical services, vehicle repairs, security, water and other forms of assistance to motorists.

Under the traffic management plan, at least three lanes on both directions from EDSA to Valenzuela will be made available during the Holy Week rush. An additional lane on the southbound direction may be provided.

Work on the northbound carriageway (Balintawak-Valenzuela) will be deferred from noon of Holy Tuesday to Holy Thursday, and on the southbound lane, from noon of Black Saturday to Easter Monday.

In a statement, NLEX authorities said construction of the southbound lane from the City of San Fernando (Pampanga) to the Candaba viaduct will be completed during the Holy Week.

More traffic enforcers and emergency vehicles will be fielded to assist in accidents, while additional safety and directional signs will be put up.

The DPWH said it will carry out its own Lakbay Alalay program on local and national roads, in coordination with local government units, to ensure faster entry and exit to and from the expressway.

The PNCC Skyway Corp., operator of the Magallanes-Alabang segment and the elevated Skyway, will also have its own support program during the Holy Week.

To assist tollway users from April 7 to 11, two motorist assistance service points will be set up along the North Luzon Tollway, namely at the Sta. Rita, San Fernando and Silangan interchanges.

Each service point will have at least 10 roving patrol teams composed of a PNCC guard, a mechanic and a Petron operative, equipped with a mobile radio, service tools, basic spare parts, and drinking/radiator water.

Along the North Luzon Tollway, the PNCC will deploy traffic and safety personnel at identified traffic-prone areas, particularly at the construction areas between the Balintawak and Valenzuela interchanges.

At the South Luzon Tollway, the identified traffic-prone areas are Filinvest, Susana Heights, Mamplasan, Sta. Rosa, Calamba interchange and Turbina.

The Skyway Corp. will also field more traffic enforcers at expected traffic-heavy points, including the interchanges in Sales, Bicutan, Sucat and Alabang.

It will deploy three-man teams to apprehend ambulant vendors who may block or impede traffic in congested areas.