By ARIS R. ILAGAN
At the height of demonstrations and protests on the toll fee increases on the 84-kilometer North Luzon Expressway, the Manila North Tollways Corporation (MNTC) remains unfazed, and is now focusing its efforts on preparations for the big increase of vehicles that will pass through the highly-modernized 84-kilometer highway this coming Holy Week.
MNTC considers the period as a lithmus test on their preparedness to handle a mammoth traffic for the holidays.
Looking confident that they can handle the task of effective traffic management, Tollways Management Corporation (TMC) president Anthony M. Mabasa said that efficient control of traffic through real time monitoring is the key factor for easing vehicle congestion.
With the
R18 billion modernization of the North Luzon Expressway, Mabasa said: "We can handle the traffic situation now."
Based on the records of the MNTC, an average of some 130,000 vehicles entered the North Luzon Expressway from the period of February to March this year. They are anticipating that figure to triple on Holy Week.
Effective traffic management needs efficient "eyes and ears" on ongoing traffic conditions from every point. Right beside the Balintawak Tollway is the nerve center of the MNTC where the traffic control center is located.
Patterned after the French traffic management system, the MNTC utilizes a sophisticated computer system with real time closed circuit television that allows them to respond to emergency situations in the shortest time possible. On the computer and CCTV monitors, MNTC can log the average vehicle volume, the average speed of passing vehicles as they happen.
From the main traffic control room, tollway authorities dispatch any of their 15 patrol vehicles or six BMW F650 motorcycles to emergency sites. The same BMW F650 motorcycles are being used to chase and apprehend overspeeding vehicles.
"When we monitor a heavy volume of vehicle on one of the lanes and they are running a speed of 40 kilometers below, there is a big indication that there is an emergency – either a stalled vehicle or an accident," Charlie Espanola of MNTC traffic management and safety department said.
Another new feature on the highway’s modernization program is the accident curtain which is set up by highway patrol personnel and engineers to prevent drivers from "rubber necking" on accident sites which cause the vehicles to slow down.
In case of emergencies like accidents or grassfires, motorists are advised on the traffic condition through the Advisory System that provides variable message signs.
On the stretch from Balintawak to Bocaue, there are emergency call boxes for every one kilometer. After Bocaue toll plaza, there are emergency call boxes that function like intercoms for every two kilometers.
Having such an ambitious traffic management set-up, MNTC authorities said that they can respond in an average time of 12 minutes for emergency situations and an average time of 10 minutes for those who need medical assistance. The existing contract of the MNTC requires them to respond to emergency calls within 20 minutes.
Ten tow trucks of the Automobile Association of the Philippines (AAP) are also on a stand by along with medical teams from LifeAlert. Both have established partnership with the Tollways Management Corporation.
