OPERATORS OF the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), and Manila-Cavite Expressway (CAVITEX) are ready for the annual surge in vehicle volume during the Holy Week holiday with procedures ready for implementation.

NLEX Corp. President and General Manager Luigi L. Bautista said they are expecting the number of vehicles to surge around 10% to 15% as people start traveling to the provinces.

He cited that last year, volume peaked to as much as 330,000 during Holy Wednesday, from a 250,000 daily average.

“That’s more than 15%. So pwede natin sabihin na sa (we can say that at) NLEX, we are in fact ready to accommodate up to 15%,” said Mr. Bautista in a media conference on Thursday.

Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC), the majority shareholder of NLEX Corp., said in a statement that toll plazas in Balintawak, Mindanao Avenue, Bocaue, Tarlac, San Miguel and Tipo will increase toll collection points by as much as 50% during the peak hours of April 17 to 22.

Road works at NLEX, CAVITEX, and the SCTEX will be suspended from April 12 to 22.

CAVITEX Infrastructure Corp. President and General Manager Roberto V. Bontia, for his part, said they are expecting vehicles to increase to around 170,000, especially on Holy Wednesday.

“On a daily basis, CAVITEX is roughly mga 150,000 to 160,000 vehicles a day,” said Mr. Bontia.

Meanwhile, NLEX Corp. Vice-President for technology Glenn G. Campos noted that speeding incidents along NLEX and SCTEX, which were averaging 500 a day, have declined by almost 50% after speed cameras were installed.

Mr. Campos also said that drivers are now informed of speed cameras through the mobile application Waze.

In a separate statement, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority said it will deploy more than 1,600 traffic personnel from April 17 to 22 along major thoroughfares, major transport hubs, and key areas in the metropolis to help manage the holiday traffic and crowd. — Vince Angelo C. Ferreras

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