The operator of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) on Tuesday predicted traffic to worsen by 10 to 15 percent during the Holy Week, abetted by the easing of travel restrictions.
According to the Metro Pacific Tollways Corp., holding company of NLEX, the return to normalcy would generally heighten activities among the people.
“With the easing of travel restrictions, there’s a lot more outdoor activity from the general public. As we return to some normalcy compared to recent years, we have anticipated this increase in volume by fielding additional personnel and offering special roadside services,” said MPTC president and chief executive Rodrigo Franco.
He projected the volume of vehicular traffic at the NLEX to surge to 460,000 to 470,000 daily, while the Cavitex would be having some 162,000 a day.
Traffic authorities also said the Cavite Laguna Expressway and C5 road would have to deal with about 30,000 and 15,000 a day, respectively.
For safer and more convenient travel during the Holy Week, the MPTC would deploy more patrol crews, traffic marshals, security teams, and toll plaza personnel.
In keeping with tradition, the firm would likewise boost emergency medical services, particularly incident response teams positioned at strategic spots of the expressways.
Lane closures and mainline road works would be suspended from April 8 to 18, unless extremely necessary for public safety reasons.
Updated traffic information would be regularly posted on the expressways’ social media accounts, while the MPTC Hotline (1-35000) would be available 24/7 to address immediate customer concerns.
The company also rolled out MPT DriveHub, an all-in-one travel app that integrates RFID transactions, trip planning, and emergency roadside assistance.
Motorists can check their RFID balance and reload their accounts within MPT DriveHub before setting off at the NLEX, SCTEX, CAVITEX or CALAX. A toll fee calculator is also in the app to help users calculate how much load they need in their RFID accounts.
“MPT DriveHub is designed to make access and mobility efficient and easy for our customers. Aside from getting to their destination safely and conveniently, we want them to feel secure that we have these customer-centric services so they can focus on enjoying the journey,” Franco added.
In conjunction with MPT DriveHub, the MPTC has set in motion some schemes meant to improve the mobility of traveling public during the Holy Week.
“The app, the increased manpower deployment, the roadside services identified to respond to our customers’ needs for this coming Holy Week – these initiatives are synergistic—they all come together to create a travel experience that is safer and more relaxing,” Franco said.