Heavy traffic expected on NLEX this weekend; alternate routes set

Motorists and commuters who have to pass through the North Luzon Expressway this weekend may have to take alternate routes as early as Friday evening, as members of the Iglesia Ni Cristo flock to Bulacan for their centennial celebration on Sunday.

 

Authorities expect some Iglesia Ni Cristo members to head for Ciudad de Victoria in Bulacan via NLEX as early as Friday evening, GMA News' Susan Enriquez reported on "24 Oras."

 

NLEX management expects 82,000, translated to at least a million people, to flock to the event.

 

MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino on Friday conducted an aerial survey of the Philippine Arena at Ciudad de Victoria, where the centennial activity will be held on Sunday.

 

The Philippine Arena, considered the world's biggest indoor arena, has a capacity of some three million, the report said.

 

On the other hand, the MMDA set up an incident command center near the North Luzon Expressway. This included tents, rescue vehicles, and container vans.

 

The MMDA also readied closed-circuit television monitors to keep an eye on traffic flow.

 

"God-willing, maayos naman ito," Tolentino said.

 

However, Tolentino said in an interview on GMA News TV's "Quick Response Team" that motorists and commuters who could afford to postpone their trips via NLEX this weekend may want to do so.

 

Alternate routes

 

Some of the alternate routes include Mindanao Avenue instead of Balintawak Toll Plaza, though it may also become crowded.

 

Motorists were also urged to try passing through the smaller exits at NLEX.

 

For its part, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board said motorists can pass the inner and secondary roads in Bulacan and Valenzuela City.

 

These include roads in Malolos, Calumpit, Bocaue, Meycauayan, Marilao, Sta. Maria, Norzagaray and Valenzuela City, as well as Sta. Maria Tungkong Manga Road instead of Sta. Maria Bypass, and the Old Cagayan Valley Road.

 

Other alternatives

 

Earlier, NLEX operator Tollways Management Corp. (TMC) said it would deploy additional toll personnel in affected plazas, and additional traffic management and security personnel at strategic areas including the Philippine Arena compound and at the interchanges near the venue.

 

TMC suggested that delegates coming from the north going to the Philippine Arena turn at the Smart Connect Interchange (Mindanao Avenue Link Interchange).

 

It added those leaving the Philipine Arena and are Manila-bound may turn at the Tabang or Balagtas Interchanges at the designated U-turn slots just after the Toll Plaza exits.

 

Parking, tow-away areas

 

Parking areas will be at local roads near the Philippine Arena while critical areas at NLEX especially from Meycauayan to Bocaue northbound will be declared tow-away zones during the event.

 

NLEX will also coordinate with the MMDA and the Philippine National Police (PNP).

 

Also, road works at NLEX were suspended since July 16 for the event "unless safety repair is required," and will resume on August 4.

 

Truck ban

 

A three-day truck ban will be in effect from July 26 to 28 at a portion of the NLEX and parts of two major Luzon roads for the Iglesia Ni Cristo's centennial celebration.

 

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board said the ban applies to trucks for hire passing through NLEX between Balintawak Tollgate and Angeles City.

 

Other roads covered by the three-day ban include: 

 

- MacArthur Highway

- Cagayan Valley Road from Sta. Rita Exit

- all provincial roads in Bulacan used as parking areas

 

Exempted from the ban are trucks carrying perishable goods and food items. —Joel Locsin/NB, GMA News