North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) Corporation is set to reactivate its “Safe Trip Mo, Sagot Ko” (SMSK) motorist assistance program from December 22, 2023 to January 2, 2024.
This is in preparation for the expected increase in traffic volume in time for the Holiday season.
NLEX Corp. president and general manager J. Luigi Bautista said SMSK aims to enhance expressway services during peak periods for safer and more convenient travel.
During its implementation, they will be deploying 1,500 traffic, toll, and systems personnel for increased patrol visibility and toll plaza assistance.
Emergency medical services and incident response teams will also be fielded and positioned at strategic areas of the expressways while the customer service hotline 1-35000 and NLEX Corporation’s social media page @NLEXexpressways will be fully operational to address customer concerns 24/7.
Bautista also advised motorists to plan their trips ahead as they expect high traffic volume during the said dates.
High traffic volume is being anticipated in the Balintawak, Mindanao, and Tarlac toll plazas on December 22 around noontime until late in the evening of December 23 and noontime until late in the evening of December 29.
Also, heavy traffic in Bocaue is expected on the early afternoon until midnight of December 25 and 26, morning of December 27, afternoon to midnight of December 29, and January 1 noontime until late in the morning of the following day; while Tarlac on December 25, 26 and January 1.
Meanwhile, construction and lane closures along the mainline road of the NLEX-SCTEX are suspended unless emergency safety repairs are necessary from December 15 up to 12 noon of January 2.
Traffic management teams will also closely monitor the chokepoint areas such as the Harborlink, Meycauayan, Bocaue, Candaba Viaduct, San Simon, San Fernando, Dau [Mabalacat] ramps, and the toll service facilities and will provide free towing services to the nearest exit for class 1 vehicles. (MJSC/VFC-PIA 3)