The Long Traffic Build-up at SLEX Experience

Last Friday September 11 2009, we went to Sta Rosa Laguna for a business transaction and as we drive our way back to Manila, we encountered a heavy traffic build-up due to the construction going on at the North Bound lane of the South Luzon Express Way. Also, the rains caused by the Low Pressure Area that became Thypoon "Nando" added more difficulty for motorists to pass through the SLEX upto the Magallanes area.

The heavy traffic build-up started along the Susana Heights exit of SLEX where only two lanes are passable. Upto the toll exit traffic pa rin ang sasalubong sa iyo. After the drivers pay for the toll, it does'nt end their. Vehicles got stuck their for a few minutes dahil barado sa labas ng exit kaya hindi makalabas yung mga sasakyan. I think we stayed there for an excruciating 15 minutes bago kami nakalusot, that was around 4:45 pm. When we reach the Bicutan area, ganun pa din and traffic, halos hindi gumagalaw ang mga sasakyan. The flow vehicles moved a bit faster when we reach Magallanes, but after we that bumper to bumper ulit and traffic, dun na kami inabot ng dilim at about 6:00 pm.

When we reach Osmena Hi-way, heavy rains started to fall and some part of the streets are flooded, plenty of passengers are also stranded, yung iba naglalakad hanggang sa unahan just to find transportation. Punuan naman yung PNR trains dahil sa dami ng pasahero. My back is starting to soar at that time because of long hours of sitting. As we stroll along Recto a lot of students are stranded and some removed their shoes at buong tapang na lumusong sa baha. We got back to the plant at 7:30 pm and take note we left Sta. Rosa at around 2:30, that was five hours. Normally 1 hour and a half upto 2 hours lang ang biyahe from Sta. Rosa to Manila, grabe yung traffic na yun.

This is the problem in Metro Manila, a little bit of rain always causes traffic because of clogged drainage systems that causes flood in some portions of Metro Manila. I'm not new to this thing, everytime there is a storm I always become a victim of heavy traffic. And for the record, in May 26, 2003 where the longest traffic build-pn in the Philippines was recorded, I was a part of that. The build-up starts from Bocaue Bulacan Toll ways upto Balintawak Quezon City. I took a Bus at around 6:00pm and I arrived home at past 9:00pm. Suwerte na ako nun dahil yung iba na nagbiyahe from Cubao to Bocaue sa EDSA na inumaga. Imagine I was a part of an all-time record, yun lang ang magandang naidulot sa akin ng traffic, ang babaw ko ano! Anyways while we were struggling at the traffic build-up last Friday, I have with me my Nokia Camera Phone and I took photos of the traffic build up.