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SCTEX prepares for summer exodus
Author: BCDA
Posted: March 12, 2009 | Category: SCTEX
With the summer vacation just around the corner and the Lenten season barely a month away, the Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) is now gearing up for a multitude of motorists who will travel to their choice destinations in Central and Northern Luzon.
“We are ready. We know that this month until the end of the Lenten Season, people from the city will peak all the way to the north or west to visit their families or just to enjoy their summer vacation,” said SCTEX program manager for operational support services and spokesperson Robert C. Gervacio..
The state-run Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) which spearheaded the construction of the four-lane, 93.7-kilometer SCTEx, guarantees unimpeded journey that takes only about 40 minutes from Clark to Subic and 25 minutes from Clark to Tarlac.
This early, the BCDA and SCTEX operator Tollways Management Corp, (TMC) are already bracing for the expected influx of vacation bound travelers that traditionally mark the summer and Lenten season. It is during this time that people flock to Baguio City—the summer capital of the Philippines.
The BCDA and the TMC have laid out stronger motorist and travelers assistance along the entire stretch of the SCTEX. This involved the deployment of more patrol cars, seasoned lane management and law enforcement teams, emergency medical crews, and automotive mechanics, as well as ambulances, tow and flatbed trucks.
For speedy passage at the toll plazas, ambulant tellers would also be dispatched to help out in toll fee collections to ward off abnormally long queues of vehicles.
The bottom line is to ensure safe, comfortable and speedy travel even as traffic volume peaks during the holiday.
“Less time on the road means more time enjoying and getting your money’s worth,” Gervacio added.
Motorists and car enthusiasts who have “tried the SCTEX for size” agree that SCTEX cut down travel time by one hour or more, since they were able to avoid the usual bottlenecks on the busy downtowns of Bataan, Pampanga and Tarlac provinces.
The seamless connection between the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and the SCTEX has allowed for faster and convenient travel of motorists coming from the south particularly Manila.
For first timers, the Tollways Management Corp. (TMC) which operates NLEX and SCTEX, issued the following advisory:
Motorists from Manila that will be going north via SCTEX are advised to enter the NLEX spur road located in Brgy. Mabiga, Mabalacat, Pampanga. Pass-by the Dau toll plaza and Dau exit of the NLEX and just follow the signages.
After entering the Clark Logistics/Mabalacat Interchange, just turn right for those who are headed North (Concepcion, Luisita, Tarlac City, Baguio, La Union, Pangasinan, Nueva Ecija and Ilocos provinces.
For those motorists going to the West (Subic, Bataan, Olongapo, and Zambales), just drive straight ahead and follow the signages.
The SCTEX started full commercial operations last July 25, 2008.
