The Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC), the holding company of NLEX, SCTEX and CAVITEX, is undertaking a massive enhancement program that will boost the service capacity of its expressways in the North and South Luzon, thus support the government’s traffic decongestion efforts.
During the press conference for the “Safe Trip Mo Sagot Ko” (SMSK) motorist assistance program for the coming All Saints’ Day, MPTC and NLEX Corporation President and CEO Rodrigo E. Franco said that the enhancement program worth P3.7 billion involves both completed and ongoing expansion of roads and toll plazas, construction of new exits, improvement of interchanges, and usage of latest technologies.
Projects Aimed at Enhancing Customer Experience
Recognizing the huge role of advanced technologies in delivering efficient service to the public, the MPTC made the Easytrip RFID payment option available for motorists in NLEX-SCTEX and integrated it with the existing RFID system in CAVITEX. Using RFID stickers to pay for toll allows more seamless and convenient travel through the MPTC expressways.
At the NLEX, 64 new lane-kilometers between Sta. Rita, Guiguinto, Bulacan and Sta. Ines, Mabalacat City, Pampanga have been fully opened this year to improve travel convenience, ensure safety of motorists, and promote growth of local businesses in the Central Luzon region.
More toll lanes were built in Balintawak, Mindanao Avenue, and Meycauayan toll plazas to increase transaction capacity and speed up travel between Metro Manila and the provinces in the north. New traffic decongestion exits going to the cities of Meycauayan and Valenzuela were also opened to the motoring public recently.
The San Fernando City Interchange is also up for enhancement as two completely new bridges are being constructed to be used as separate carriageways to decongest traffic in Pampanga’s capital city. The construction of a right-turning ramp to Mabalacat-Magalang Road in Pampanga is underway to make Sta. Ines a full interchange.
Meanwhile, the new Mabiga Interchange on the SCTEX will soon serve as a full diamond interchange by eliminating the U-turn slot from SCTEX to Mac Arthur Highway. New on and off ramps with entry and exit toll plazas will be constructed for faster and safer travel.
Two toll lanes are being added to the Tipo Exit Toll Plaza, bringing the total toll booths to six.
At the CAVITEX, traffic is expected to ease with the ongoing construction of new expressway lanes on both northbound and southbound directions of R1 Coastal Road and a flyover at the Pacific Drive.
The company has also taken its speed management to the next level with the use of Speed System CCTV at the NLEX-SCTEX to enhance traffic safety and control. Unlike the speed gun, the Speed System CCTV performs automatic speed profiling, plate number identification, and photo printing.
“Providing motorists with a travel experience that keeps getting better has always been a top priority for MPTC,” Franco noted. “Rest assured that these innovative projects will make travel along our expressways an even more delightful experience.”
SafeTrip Mo Sagot Ko (SMSK) Undas 2017
In keeping up with its commitment to provide the ultimate expressway experience, the MPTC is again implementing “Safe Trip Mo Sagot Ko” (SMSK) along the NLEX, the SCTEX and the CAVITEX this ‘Undas.’
The SMSK is the motorist assistance program of the MPTC meant to enhance the traffic management and toll collection services during holidays.
From October 27 to November 6, NLEX-SCTEX traffic personnel will extend working hours to closely monitor and manage the expected heavy volume of vehicles in Balintawak, Mindanao Avenue, Bocaue, Sta. Ines, Tarlac, and Tipo toll plazas. Additional patrol and incident response teams will be deployed to immediately assist distressed motorists.
On the peak hours of October 27, 28, 30, 31, and November 1, the Balintawak Toll Plaza will open 24 toll collection points while Mindanao Avenue and Tarlac toll plazas will open 10 and 16 toll collection points, respectively. Portabooths and portable toll collection equipment will be used to speed up transactions.
By November 1 and 2, the Bocaue Toll Plaza will have 48 collection points in operation for southbound motorists.
During the same period, CAVITEX will field more traffic patrol officers and security personnel to manage the traffic and assist motorists. Ambulant tellers will be on standby to facilitate faster toll transactions.
Mainline road works at the NLEX-SCTEX will be suspended beginning October 27 and will resume after the ASEAN Summit on November 16. At the CAVITEX, suspension of major road works will be from October 27 to November 2.
On October 28 to November 2, MPTC and its partners will set up SMSK Motorist Camps and provide free services such as free calls and Wi-Fi, free drinking water, free basic mechanic services and first aid treatments in designated locations along NLEX, SCTEX, and CAVITEX. Free towing services to the nearest exit will be offered to Class 1 vehicles from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
SMSK is co-presented by Caltex and supported by Kopiko, Pilipinas Shell, Pru Life UK, Smart, Maynilad Water, Prestone, and media partners TV5, Rescue 5, The Philippine Star, and Business World.
