Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon required NLEX Corp., the operator of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) to temporarily waive fees in affected areas amid the heavy traffic due to the Marilao Interchange Bridge accident.

“I am demanding from NLEX na habang ginagawa ito at naaberya ang mga kababayan natin, para doon sa area segment na may aberya, ilibre muna nila ang toll, walang babayaran ang mga kababayn natin habang ginagawa nila ‘to,” he told reporters.

“They owe it to the public na huwag muna sila maningil,” Dizon said.

Dizon added that the repair of the bridge should take only one week, instead of the original 2 to 3 weeks reported by authorities.

In a press statement, NLEX Corp. said it “remains fully committed to minimizing inconvenience to motorists and ensuring the swift restoration of normal traffic flow along the section of NLEX affected by the Marilao incident.”

The toll operator issued the statement after Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon “demanded” NLEX to waive toll at affected areas while it repairs the bridge in question.

“NLEX Corp. acknowledges DOTr Secretary Vince Dizon’s statement that urges NLEX to consider some toll relief at the Marilao Segment of the expressway where the bridge hit incident occurred last 19 March, which has resulted in heavy traffic,” the company said.

“We understand the concerns of the DOTr and our stakeholders about the slower travel along Marilao because of the incident and we have undertaken immediate measures to alleviate congestion,” it added.

On Wednesday, NLEX Corp. announced the temporary closure of two northbound lanes at Marilao Interchange Bridge due to a road crash.

On Thursday, the toll road operator said slow-moving traffic is expected as the repair of the Marilao Interchange Bridge may take two to three weeks after the accident.

“Last night, we opened an additional lane, increasing the usable lanes to three. Furthermore, a zipper lane will be opened in the southbound direction when conditions allow,” NLEX Corp. said.