Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon has called on the North Luzon Expressway Corporation (NLEX) to allocate additional lanes and waive toll fees at the affected area (Balintawak to Marilao) for motorists following the recent accident at the Marilao Interchange Bridge.
Dizon argued that it is only reasonable for NLEX to waive toll from motorists passing the northbound side of the expressway while bridge repairs are underway.
“Maliit na pakonswelo lang ito sa abalang dinaranas ng mga motorista’t pasahero.”
“Dobleng pasakit naman sa mga motorista kung sisingilin pa sila nang buong toll habang ilang oras silang naiipit sa traffic kahit maikling distansya lang naman ang ibibiyahe nila. Maliit na pakonswelo lang ito sa abalang dinaranas ng mga motorista’t pasahero,” the transport chief said.
Aside from the toll holiday for the affected NLEX segment, the transport head also said that it is necessary to allocate additional lanes to immediately address traffic congestion.
In response, the NLEX Corporation already opened one additional lane—providing a total of three lanes to allow faster flow of traffic.
Meanwhile, the Toll Regulatory Board already asked NLEX to explain why it shouldn’t face penalties for allowing a truck with excessive vertical clearance to enter the toll plaza, damaging the bridge.
NLEX, on the other hand, filed charges of reckless imprudence resulting in damage to property against the driver and the owners of the truck.
For its part, the Land Transportation Office immediately issued a show cause order to the truck company and its driver.
Dizon assured the public that the DOTr and its attached agencies are working closely with NLEX to repair the damaged bridge as quickly as possible.
“We are in close coordination with NLEX management and we thank them for their urgent response to the incident and their cooperation to mitigate traffic,” he explained.
“Dapat ibalik ang oras sa tao.”
“Laging bilin ni Pangulong Marcos, dapat ibalik ang oras sa tao. Kaya dapat lang na maayos natin agad ito, para hindi ilang oras maipit sa traffic ang mga motorista at pasahero,” Dizon stressed.
He also said that the repair works for the bridge should be complete in less than two weeks.
