Nakatakdang i-upgrade ng NLEX Corporation ang may 1,300 roadway lights mula sa bayan ng Balagtas hanggang sa San Fernando City, Pampanga na may kabuuang 33 kilometers bilang bahagi ng kanilang programa na mapabuti at masigurong ligtas ang mga motorista.
Ayon kay NLEX Corporation President and General Manager J. Luigi L. Bautista, ito ay nakatakdang isagawa ngayong Pebrero kabilang na rito ang replacement ng existing LED (light emitting diode) lights upang mas lalong mapaliwanag ang level nito mula sa 16 lux ay magiging 20 lux na ito.
Ito umano ay magdudulot ng ibayong liwanag at hindi mahihirapan ang mga motorista habang binabagtas ang kahabaan ng NLEX Bulacan to Pampanga at karagdagang road awareness para sa mga drivers.
“Compared to the conventional type of roadway lighting, LED lights are more energy efficient, reliable, and durable since they can last an average of 70,000 operating hours,” ani Bautista.
“They are compact and work well in a wide range of temperatures and weather conditions including typhoons. In addition, LEDs have good color rendering index or the ability to reveal the actual color of the object, which is very beneficial for night driving,” dagdag pa nito.
Nabatid na ang klase ng ilaw na ikakabit ay magbibigay ng higher vision range para sa mga nagmamaneho kung saan mas madali na rin mabasa at m,akita ang mga road signages and warnings.
Nabatid pa na ang gagamitin ditong mga ilaw ay halos kahalintulad ng mga LEDs na gamit sa ibang bansa at lagpas pa sa 12 lux standard ng Philippine Department of Energy. LED lights ay eco-friendly dahil hindi ito gaanong umiinit at makakabawas naman ng greenhouse gas emissions.
“This move aims to standardize our lighting and provide uniform luminosity of roadway lights for the entire NLEX system – from Balintawak all the way to areas in the north. At NLEX, we go beyond what is required by providing our motorists with adequate lighting for safer travel, as well as helping the environment by lessening our carbon footprint,” ayon pa kay Bautista, dagdag pa niya “the project is targeted for completion by March.” Napagalaman na ang NLEX Corp. ay regular na nagsasagawa ng enhancement works sa nasabing expressways kung saan kasama rin sa routine maintenance activities nito ang mga roadway sweeping, grass cutting, tree pruning, at drainage cleaning, kabilang na rin ang regular pavement repairs at lighting replacement.
“Last year, it completed the replacement of 1,078 interchange and median LED lighting from NLEX Balintawak to Tabang. It has also heightened the illumination of the said lights from 12 lux to 20 lux, Bautista ended.