NLEX suspends toll payment from Balintawak to Meycauayan
FILE PHOTO: Motorists pass by the RFID lanes of the NLEx Connector ramp in Manila. —GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE
MARILAO, Bulacan — Motorists using the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) will no longer be charged tolls from their Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) accounts or need to pay tolls upon entering the northbound lanes of the Balintawak Toll Plaza starting noon on Monday, March 24, as NLEX Corp. begins its temporary toll relief from Balintawak to Meycauayan.
In a statement released on Sunday evening, NLEX Corp. said the P79 toll relief would apply to all northbound motorists entering Balintawak, Karuhatan, Paso de Blas, and Lawang Bato in Valenzuela until Meycauayan under the open system toll fee collection.
NLEX Corp. explained that congestion caused by the closure of two lanes at the Marilao Interchange Bridge occurs after the Meycauayan section, which is already congestion-free. Therefore, the toll relief is only applicable up to Meycauayan.
The toll relief is in response to the Department of Transportation’s (DOTr) call for NLEX Corp. to implement a temporary toll fee exemption.
The temporary suspension of toll payments will remain in effect until all four lanes in the Marilao northbound area are reopened.
An advisory released on March 22 said NLEX Corp. aimed to complete repairs on the Marilao Interchange Bridge by the end of March to alleviate traffic congestion along the expressway.
The bridge sustained severe damage after a 4.9-meter-high truck traversing the northbound lane of NLEX struck the structure. The expressway enforces a 4.2-meter vertical clearance limit for large vehicles.
Since the incident, the two inner lanes of the expressway have been closed for the safety of all motorists. The following day, NLEX Corp. began repair work on the structure.
The truck driver, identified as Joel Belila, was arrested and charged with reckless imprudence resulting in damage to property.
“We ask for the motoring public’s patience and understanding as we fast-track repairs and work to restore normal traffic flow as soon as possible,” NLEX Corp. said in a statement. INQ
READ: NLEx to reopen Marilao Bridge’s 4 lanes by end-March
