The North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) Corporation on Friday assured the public it is taking immediate steps to ease traffic congestion in areas affected by the Marilao Interchange Bridge mishap after the Department of Transportation (DOTr) demanded it waive toll fees.
In a statement, NLEX acknowledged the directive from DOTr Secretary Vince Dizon, who urged the company to consider temporary toll adjustments after the March 19 incident, which caused heavy traffic in the area.
“We understand the concerns of the DOTr and our stakeholders about the slower travel along Marilao because of the incident and we have undertaken immediate measures to alleviate congestion,” NLEX said.
The company did not explicitly mention whether it would comply with Dizon’s directive to waive toll fees in the affected areas.
To address the situation, NLEX said it has opened an additional lane, bringing the total to three usable lanes. It also announced plans to introduce a zipper lane in the southbound direction when conditions permit. It said these measures have already led to a gradual improvement in traffic flow.
“Barring any unforeseen circumstances, we expect to reopen all four lanes by the end of March,” NLEX said.
The company reiterated its commitment to ensuring safe and efficient expressway services and pledged to keep the public informed about further developments and additional steps to alleviate congestion.