The top traffic story these days is the bumper-to-bumper gridlock on northbound NLEX as a result of the damage sustained by the Marilao Interchange Bridge after being hit by two trucks last March 19. Such has been the inconvenience to motorists that Department of Transportation chief Vince Dizon has called upon NLEX Corporation to waive the toll fees in the affected areas.

Last night, at exactly 6:30pm, the NLEX management announced that it was dutifully heeding the DOTr’s call to waive toll fees in the area for the time being. Starting at 12nn today (March 24), no toll fees will be collected on the northbound part of the expressway from Balintawak to Meycauayan.

The toll relief will be in effect until such time as “all four lanes of the Marilao northbound area are reopened.”

The new toll fee for Class 1 vehicles from Balintawak to Marilao is P79. That may not be much compared to the time that is lost from the traffic jam, but at least it’s better than nothing.

Coffee, anyone?