NLEX Corp. Accelerates Road Repairs on NLEX, SCTEX Ahead of All Saints' Day Holiday Rush
Key Takeaways
- •NLEX Corp. is accelerating pavement maintenance on the NLEX and SCTEX corridors in preparation for the expected Undas travel surge on Nov. 1–2.
- •Repair work has been completed at Marilao, Sta. Rita, Balintawak and Tabang, while pavement upgrades at Bocaue and other sections remain underway.
- •The program relies on mill-and-pave activities that replace worn pavement with fresh asphalt and are being scheduled to minimize disruption for motorists.
- •The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board has granted 1,200 special permits for provincial buses as the Department of Transportation anticipates higher holiday passenger volumes.
- •NLEX Corp. announced last week that the two-kilometer NLEX-C5 Northlink Segment 8.2 Section 1A, part of the broader 11.3-kilometer project, is 96% complete.
NLEX Corp. is stepping up pavement maintenance and repair work along the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) as it prepares for an expected surge in traffic during the All Saints' Day period.
All Saints' Day, observed on Nov. 1, and All Souls' Day the following day — the period known locally as Undas — are traditionally among the busiest travel times of the year in the Philippines, when families journey to their home provinces to visit cemeteries and pay respects to departed loved ones. The NLEX-SCTEX corridor is the principal expressway route between Metro Manila and Central and Northern Luzon, making it a key artery for holiday travelers heading to provinces north of the capital.
"Regular pavement maintenance is an important part of preserving the quality and durability of our expressways," NLEX President and General Manager Luis S. Reñon said in a statement on Wednesday. "By addressing pavement wear and tear and carrying out the necessary repairs, we help maintain reliable road conditions and support safer travel for our motorists," he added.
The tollway operator said it has completed repair work at Marilao, Sta. Rita, Balintawak and Tabang, while pavement upgrades are underway at Bocaue and other sections of its network.
The Department of Transportation has projected higher passenger volumes ahead of All Saints' Day, and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board has issued 1,200 special permits for provincial buses to help meet the anticipated demand.
The maintenance program of NLEX Corp., a unit of Metro Pacific Tollways Corp. (MPTC), includes mill-and-pave activities, which involve removing worn pavement sections and replacing them with fresh asphalt. The company said the works are being scheduled and managed to minimize disruption to motorists. How quickly the remaining upgrades are finished before the Nov. 1–2 travel peak will be a detail to monitor for holiday motorists.
"Motorists are reminded to observe traffic signs, follow speed limits and exercise caution when passing through work zones," NLEX said.
NLEX Corp. is the concessionaire and operator of NLEX, SCTEX and the NLEX Connector. Last week, the company announced that the NLEX-C5 Northlink Segment 8.2 project had reached 96% completion. The two-kilometer Segment 8.2 Section 1A forms part of the broader 11.3-kilometer NLEX-C5 Northlink project, which will connect Mindanao Avenue to C5/C.P. Garcia Avenue near Katipunan Avenue in Quezon City. The project is intended to improve road links between Metro Manila and Central and Northern Luzon through the NLEX network.
MPTC is the tollway unit of Metro Pacific Investments Corp., one of the three key Philippine subsidiaries of Hong Kong-based First Pacific Co. Ltd., alongside Philex Mining Corp. and PLDT Inc.
Hastings Holdings, Inc., a unit of the PLDT Beneficial Trust Fund subsidiary MediaQuest Holdings, Inc., holds a majority stake in BusinessWorld through the Philippine Star Group.
— Ashley Erika O. Jose
Source: BusinessWorld
