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NLEX puts up more weighbridge sites for truckers vs. overloading

By Zorayda Tecson and Manny Balbin

May 29, 2023, 7:53 pm

<p><strong>WEIGHBRIDGE STATION</strong>. NLEX Corporation has set up more weighbridge stations along the stretch of North Luzon Expressways (NLEX), Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) and NLEX Connector to help truckers comply with the government’s anti-overloading policy. The NLEX Corporation said the move aims to promote motorists’ safety and prevent early deterioration of roads caused by overloading. <em>(Photo courtesy of NLEX Corporation)</em></p>

WEIGHBRIDGE STATION. NLEX Corporation has set up more weighbridge stations along the stretch of North Luzon Expressways (NLEX), Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) and NLEX Connector to help truckers comply with the government’s anti-overloading policy. The NLEX Corporation said the move aims to promote motorists’ safety and prevent early deterioration of roads caused by overloading. (Photo courtesy of NLEX Corporation)

CITY OF SAN FERNANDO, Pampanga – NLEX Corporation has set up more weighbridge stations for truckers entering North Luzon Expressways (NLEX), Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) and NLEX Connector to help them comply with the government’s anti-overloading policy.

Kit Ventura, assistant vice president for corporate communication of the Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC), told the local media on Monday that NLEX also aims to promote motorist safety and prevent early deterioration of roads caused by overloading.

"The management said having these weighbridge sites in place will help reduce overloading incidents which threaten the safety of motorists as the extra load may affect the driver’s control of the vehicle. This will also protect roads from further damage and improve the efficient movement of cargo," Ventura said.

The tollway company is strictly enforcing the anti-overloading provisions of Republic Act 8794 otherwise known as “An Act Imposing a Motor Vehicle Users Charge on Owners of all Types of Motor Vehicle and for Other Purposes”.

Likewise, Ventura said it is implementing the 33-ton weight limit on the Candaba Viaduct southbound as affirmed by the Department of Public Works and Highways and the Department of Transportation.

The new weighbridge stations are located in SCTEX Porac, Pampanga and Concepcion in Tarlac.

Privately-owned ACB Truck Scale Services weighbridge in Dinalupihan, Bataan has also been opened to all trucks from Monday to Sunday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. where truckers need to pay a PHP400 to PHP600 fee.

The NLEX Corporation said it is also eyeing to open more stations in the coming months to further promote safety and convenience.

The locations will be in SCTEX Floridablanca in Pampanga and Dinalupihan, Bataan as well as NLEX Marilao, Karuhatan and Mindanao Avenue.

At present, there are 12 existing locations along the entire stretch of NLEX and four satellite locations in partnership with private firms.

The private stations are the TAG Metal Weighbridge in Ninoy Aquino Highway, Barangay Sta Maria, Mabalacat, Pampanga; Clark Development Corporation Weighbridge in Clark Freeport, Mabalacat, Pampanga; Subic Bay International Terminal Corporation Weighbridge in San Bernardino Road, Subic Port District, Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Zambales; and Mega Subic Terminal Services, Inc. weighbridge in NSD Compound, Subic Bay Freeport Zone, Zambales.

Instead of lining up at NLEX-SCTEX interchanges, trucks can be weighed closer to their respective bases and if ever they go beyond the weight limit, they can easily go back and adjust their load.

Last year, NLEX partnered with stakeholders in the business sector to set up weighbridge stations closer to their respective bases as part of its initiative to ease the daily operations of various companies while advancing road safety.

It has also implemented the 33-ton weight limit on the Candaba Viaduct southbound as studies showed that continuous heavy loads caused great strain on the bridge.

Meanwhile, motorists are advised that there will be lane closures at the Candaba Viaduct northbound to give way to the concreting works and curing period.

During the concreting works, the middle and rightmost lanes are closed while the leftmost lane is passable from May 29 and June 1, 3 and 5 every 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.

During the curing period, all three lanes (middle, rightmost and leftmost) are closed from May 29, June 1, 3 and 5 every 9:30 p.m. to 5 a.m.

Northbound motorists will use one zipper lane at the southbound portion of the Candaba Viaduct, the NLEX further said in its advisory.

NLEX Corporation is a subsidiary of the MPTC, the toll road arm of the Metro Pacific Investments Corporation. (PNA)

 

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