Traffic builds up on NLEX northbound ahead of Coldplay concert

Traffic on the northbound side of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) was sluggish on Friday hours before a concert by rock band Coldplay at the Philippine Arena in Sta. Maria, Bulacan.

As of 4:30 p.m. on Friday, a 1.9-km traffic buildup was monitored approaching the Balintawak Toll Plaza, according to Super Radyo dzBB's post on X (formerly Twitter).

The section from Balintawak Toll Plaza to NLEX Harbor Link Interchange Northbound was moving at a slow 5-15 kph amid a high volume of vehicles.

A separate post on X by GMA Integrated News reporter JP Soriano said long queues of vehicles were lined up at the Balintawak Toll Plaza-Northbound lane.

Coldplay's "Music of the Spheres" concert will be held for two nights at the Philippine Arena in Bulacan, starting today until tomorrow, Jan. 20.

Earlier today, NLEX Corp. released a traffic advisory urging motorists to prepare for the anticipated road congestion due to the concert.

"Please allot more travel time as high volume of traffic is expected during the event. For motorists heading to Bocaue or Santa Maria, take alternate routes via Marilao or Tambubong exits," NLEX said in Facebook post.

This is the second time for Coldplay to perform in the Philippines, following their previous concert in 2017. — Sherilyn Untalan/ VDV, GMA Integrated News