NLEX clear on Thursday after most vacationers returned to Manila a day before
Traffic was free-flowing on North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) on Thursday morning, a day after All Saints' Day (Undas).
At the Balintawak, Bocaue, and Mindanao Avenue toll plazas, vehicles in both directions traveled without delay as of past 5 a.m., according to a report by Victoria Tulad on Unang Balita on Thursday.
NLEX as of 5:41 AM. Keep safe distance. @MMDA @TRBSAFE pic.twitter.com/oblsc8ZnUv
— NLEX Corporation (@NLEXexpressways) November 1, 2017
This was in stark contrast to the situation on Wednesday night when traffic was heavy for eight hours on NLEX from Bocaue to Balagtas as vacationers returned to Manila from the provinces where they observed All Saints' Day.
The traffic stretched to five kilometers then, from 4 p.m. to midnight, Zen Maglalang, traffic supervisor of NLEX, said.
Bocaue toll plaza southbound as of 11:25 PM. Drive safely. @MMDA @TRBSAFE pic.twitter.com/Iwodkj3vdT
— NLEX Corporation (@NLEXexpressways) November 1, 2017
Many vacationers opted to go back to Manila on Nov. 1, Wednesday, since Nov. 2 is a working day.
Despite the increased volume of vehicles on Wednesday, NLEX saw no need to have ambulant tellers since they already put additional lanes at the Balintawak and Mindanao areas.
Only a few minor accidents on NLEX were reported over the Undas holidays.
As of 6:50 a.m. Thursday, moderate to heavy traffic was reported at the Balintawak Cloverleaf area coming from NLEX.
Traffic also became heavy at Balintawak going to EDSA as of 7 a.m.
Maglalang said the traffic may ease up by 9 a.m.
She added that motorists need not worry since this is normal on a working day in those areas.
Motorists who may need assistance may call the NLEX hotline at 0235000.
NLEX personnel remain on full alert even after most vacationers have already gone back to their homes. —KG, GMA News