Toll road operators all set for the holidays

Toll road operators are set to ensure that expressways will be ready to accommodate the rush as motorists go out-of-town for the holidays.

SMC Infrastructure said it has deployed additional traffic management personnel at all its tollways — the Southern Tagalog Arterial Road, South Luzon Expressway, the Skyway System, NAIA Expressway, and the Tarlac-Pangasinan-La Union Expressway — to provide roadside assistance to motorists and help manage the flow of vehicles at exit points.

"Traffic buildup and congestion at our expressways, ports, and airports is something we all expect at this time of the year, especially as restrictions have fully eased," SMC President Ramon S. Ang said in a statement on Wednesday.

"We appeal to our motorists for their patience and understanding as we anticipate heavy traffic," he added.

Ambulant tellers, tasked with helping speed up vehicle throughput at toll plazas by scanning Autosweep cards along queues will also be deployed.

Christmas, New Year toll fees waived

SMC Infra also announced that it will waive all toll fees at STAR, SLEX, the Skyway system, NAIAX, and the TPLEX, for the Christmas and New Year holidays.

The "toll holiday" will begin at 10 p.m. of 24 December to 6 a.m. of 25 December for the Christmas holiday, and 10 p.m. of 31 December to 6 a.m. of 1 January for the New Year holiday.

Meanwhile, NLEX Corporation said it has ramped up its management measures to respond to traffic volume this coming Christmas and New Year holidays.

From 23 December to 3 January 2023, the tollway company will enhance its operations along the NLEX-SCTEX as part of its "Safe Trip Mo Sagot Ko" motorist assistance program.

Traffic management teams will closely monitor Balintawak, Mindanao, Karuhatan, Valenzuela (Paso de Blas), Meycauayan, Marilao, Bocaue, Sta. Rita, Pulilan, San Simon, San Fernando, Clark South, Tarlac, Tipo and SFEX as high volume of vehicles is anticipated in these areas.

To assist motorists and ensure efficient traffic flow, NLEX management will field more than 1,000 patrol crews, traffic marshals, security teams and toll lane personnel.

It will also deploy emergency medical services and incident response teams at strategic areas.

Except for the Candaba Viaduct repairs, construction and lane closures along the mainline road of the NLEX-SCTEX will be suspended unless safety repairs are necessary.

From 23 to 26 December and from 1 to 3 January 2023, free towing to the nearest exit will be available to those traveling with Class 1 or light vehicles.