NLEX Traffic Update TodayLive

Incidents live, checked (hourly)Speeds updated (every 30 min)

Incidents and speeds: live traffic data. Operator: NLEX Corporation. Regulator: Toll Regulatory Board.

From our hourly incident log: 459 incidents on NLEX in the last 7 days, 0 of them accidents. The longest single delay was +38 min on Tue, Nov 3. Day by day.

Aditya Aman, author and expressway expert based in Manila, PhilippinesBy Published Feb 7, 2026Updated Nov 7, 2026Editorial PolicyLives in the Philippines and has driven nearly every Luzon expressway with his family.

Passable, slow near Bocaue

7 slowdowns, worst +6 min at Meycauayan → Bocaue (North Luzon Expressway to Bocaue-Santa Maria By Pass Road)

End to end (88.85 km): usually 56 min. Reported delays now: +14 min northbound, +2 min southbound.

As of , from incident reports checked hourly.

Why Is There Traffic on NLEX Today?

As of 20:07 PHT, incident reports show 0 accidents, 0 flooding reports, 0 closures, 0 roadworks sites and 7 slowdowns on NLEX. Worst first:

  • Slow traffic at Meycauayan → Bocaue (North Luzon Expressway to Bocaue-Santa Maria By Pass Road), northbound, +6 min delay, 2.3 km of queuing traffic, since 13:07 PHT.
  • Slow traffic at Meycauayan → Bocaue (exit 23 to exit 32), northbound, +3 min delay, 3.2 km of slow traffic, since 19:36 PHT.
  • Slow traffic at Balintawak → Mindanao Ave (Balingasa Road to E1), northbound, +3 min delay, 0.6 km of stationary traffic, since 16:43 PHT.
  • Slow traffic at Valenzuela → Meycauayan (Lawang Bato exit 17 to exit 23), northbound, +2 min delay, 7.2 km of heavy traffic, since 17:28 PHT.
  • Slow traffic at Balintawak → Mindanao Ave (exit 15 to Kaloocan City CPO), southbound, +1 min delay, since 19:55 PHT.
  • Slow traffic at San Fernando → Mexico (exit 72 to exit 65), southbound, +1 min delay, 3.2 km of slow traffic, since 19:59 PHT.
  • Slow traffic at San Fernando → Mexico (exit 65 to exit 56), southbound, 1.3 km of heavy traffic, since 20:05 PHT.

Bakit traffic sa NLEX ngayon? Sitwasyon ngayon: madadaanan pero mabagal malapit sa Bocaue.

NLEX northbound and southbound traffic update today

NLEX northbound

Balintawak toward Dau

Passable, slow near Bocaue

+14 min reported delay as of 20:07 PHT: +6 at Meycauayan, +3 at Meycauayan, +3 at Balintawak, +2 at Valenzuela.

NLEX southbound

Dau toward Balintawak

Passable, slow near Mindanao Ave

+2 min reported delay as of 20:07 PHT: +1 at Balintawak, +1 at San Fernando.

If NLEX Is Slow: Your Alternatives

Compare the reported delay above with these options before you commit to an entry plaza.

RouteHow it worksTrade-off
Skyway Stage 3 to NLEXUse Skyway Stage 3 from Buendia/Makati to bypass EDSA traffic and connect directly to NLEX at Balintawak. Avoids the congested Quezon City surface roads.Best from Makati, BGC or Manila when EDSA is slow
MacArthur Highway (Route 3)The old Manila North Road runs parallel to NLEX through Valenzuela, Meycauayan, and Bocaue. Free but slower. Best when NLEX has accidents or major delays.No toll, but slower: traffic lights and town centres all the way
Harbor Link to C-3/R-10For cargo and port-bound traffic, use Harbor Link from NLEX Valenzuela exit to reach Manila ports, avoiding city traffic through Caloocan.For trucks and port-bound trips

Staying on NLEX? Check the fee for your exit in the NLEX toll matrix.

NLEX Today: Speed Alerts and Cleared Incidents

Heavy stretches our 30-minute speed check is tracking, and the incidents cleared since yesterday. Last checked .

Cleared in the last 24 hours

  1. Slow traffic, Bocaue → Tabang (exit 38 to exit 23), cleared

  2. Slow traffic, Meycauayan → Bocaue (Mcarthur Highway to North Luzon Expressway), cleared

  3. Slow traffic, Bocaue → Tabang (Bulihan Provincial Road to North Luzon Expressway), cleared

  4. Slow traffic, Meycauayan → Bocaue (M Villarica Road to North Luzon Expressway), cleared

  5. Slow traffic, Meycauayan → Bocaue (Bocaue-Santa Maria By Pass Road to North Luzon Expressway), cleared

  6. Slow traffic, Bocaue → Tabang (North Luzon Expressway to Tall-Bocaue Road), cleared

  7. Slow traffic, Meycauayan → Bocaue (North Luzon Expressway to Mcarthur Highway), cleared

  8. Slow traffic, Valenzuela → Meycauayan (Bo Lawa Street to North Luzon Expressway), cleared

  9. Heavy Traffic, Meycauayan → Bocaue, to

  10. Heavy Traffic, Balintawak → Mindanao Ave, to

  11. Heavy Traffic, Balintawak → Mindanao Ave, to

  12. Heavy Traffic, Mindanao Ave → Valenzuela, to

  13. Heavy Traffic, Mindanao Ave → Valenzuela, to

NLEX Segment by Segment

9 monitored segments, speed feed as of . Usual time is each segment's length at its typical speed. “Now” shows an active incident first, then the speed feed, which refreshes every 30 min. Pick your destination in the next section for the stretch you will drive.

SegmentLengthUsual timeNowReported delay, both directionsUsually heavy
Balintawak to Mindanao AveSkyway Stage 3 connection, SM Fairview exitabout 4 km2 minSlow (incident)+4 minMon-Fri 7 AM-10 AM, 4 PM-11 PM
Mindanao Ave to ValenzuelaKaruhatan exit, Harbor Link connectionabout 8 km5 minClearNoneMon-Fri 7 AM-10 AM, 4 PM-11 PM
Valenzuela to MeycauayanPolo exit, Marilao industrial areaabout 10 km6 minSlow (incident)+2 minMon-Fri 4 PM-11 PM
Meycauayan to BocaueMarilao plaza, Ciudad de Victoria, Bocaue Church areaabout 12 km7 minSlow (incident)+9 minNo regular heavy hours
Bocaue to TabangBalagtas, Tambubong exit, Pulilanabout 18 km11 minLight TrafficNoneNo regular heavy hours
Tabang to PulilanSta. Rita exit, Pulilan exitabout 6 km4 minClearNoneNo regular heavy hours
Pulilan to San FernandoCandaba Viaduct, San Simon exit, Pampanga provincial capitalabout 20 km12 minModerate TrafficNoneNo regular heavy hours
San Fernando to MexicoMexico plazaabout 8 km5 minSlow (incident)+1 minNo regular heavy hours
Mexico to DauAngeles exit, Clark Airport access, SCTEX connectionabout 8 km5 minClearNoneNo regular heavy hours

Where Are You Headed on NLEX?

Usual drive time for the segments each trip uses, with the delay reported on them now.

NLEX traffic update today going to Manila (southbound)

Bocaue to Mindanao Ave is about 52 km on NLEX, usually 31 min. Reported delay now: +14 min northbound, +1 min southbound. Now: Bocaue to Tabang light traffic; Meycauayan to Bocaue slow (incident); Valenzuela to Meycauayan slow (incident); Mindanao Ave to Valenzuela clear; Balintawak to Mindanao Ave slow (incident).

Manila-bound traffic funnels from Tabang through Bocaue and Meycauayan into Balintawak, where NLEX meets EDSA, Skyway Stage 3 and the Mindanao Avenue link. The last stretch into Balintawak is the morning bottleneck; Skyway Stage 3 at Balintawak is the usual bypass of EDSA. Skyway Stage 3 traffic update today

NLEX Bocaue and Marilao traffic update today

Valenzuela to Tabang is about 40 km on NLEX, usually 24 min. Reported delay now: +11 min northbound. Now: Valenzuela to Meycauayan slow (incident); Meycauayan to Bocaue slow (incident); Bocaue to Tabang light traffic.

Marilao sits between the Meycauayan and Bocaue exits, so the Valenzuela to Tabang segments are the ones to read for both towns. This is the stretch where Friday-night and holiday queues form first.

NLEX Balintawak traffic update now

Balintawak to Mindanao Ave is about 4 km on NLEX, usually 2 min. Reported delay now: +3 min northbound, +1 min southbound. Now: Balintawak to Mindanao Ave slow (incident).

Balintawak is the toll plaza at the Manila end of NLEX. When this short segment is slow, the queue usually reaches back toward Valenzuela; check the Valenzuela and Meycauayan rows above before you pick an exit.

NLEX traffic update today going to Bulacan

Balintawak to Tabang is about 52 km on NLEX, usually 31 min. Reported delay now: +14 min northbound, +1 min southbound. Now: Balintawak to Mindanao Ave slow (incident); Mindanao Ave to Valenzuela clear; Valenzuela to Meycauayan slow (incident); Meycauayan to Bocaue slow (incident); Bocaue to Tabang light traffic.

Bulacan-bound traffic covers Balintawak to Tabang. The Balintawak to Meycauayan stretch is the worst bottleneck on weekday evenings and Friday nights as weekend travellers head north.

NLEX San Simon and Candaba Viaduct update today

Tabang to San Fernando is about 26 km on NLEX, usually 16 min, with no delay reported now. Now: Tabang to Pulilan clear; Pulilan to San Fernando moderate traffic.

The Candaba Viaduct between Pulilan and San Simon is the stretch that closes or slows in heavy rain and floods, and the San Simon exit is where Pampanga-bound traffic first backs up. Sta. Rita and Pulilan exits sit just south of it. Check this block before a wet-season trip north.

NLEX traffic update today going to Pampanga

Tabang to Dau is about 42 km on NLEX, usually 25 min. Reported delay now: +1 min southbound. Now: Tabang to Pulilan clear; Pulilan to San Fernando moderate traffic; San Fernando to Mexico slow (incident); Mexico to Dau clear.

Pampanga-bound traffic runs Tabang to Dau, where NLEX meets SCTEX. Conditions here usually ease once the Bulacan exits have peeled off commuter volume. SCTEX traffic update today

Plan Your Trip on NLEX

Weekdays: 7-9 AM southbound (toward Manila), 5-8 PM northbound (toward provinces). Fridays: 4-10 PM northbound (weekend exodus). Sundays: 3-8 PM southbound (return traffic). Holidays: Heavy in both directions starting Thursday evening. Price the trip with the toll and fuel calculator or the NLEX toll matrix.

WhenDirectionUsuallyWhy
11:00 PM - 5:00 AMBothClearOvernight travel is clear except cargo trucks
5:00 AM - 6:30 AMSouthboundLightBest window for Manila-bound commuters
10:00 AM - 3:00 PMBothLightMid-day lull between rush hours
7:00 AM - 9:00 AMSouthboundHeavyMorning rush, avoid if possible
5:00 PM - 8:00 PMNorthboundHeavyEvening rush, worst bottleneck at Balintawak
Friday 4:00 PM - 10:00 PMNorthboundHeavyWeekend exodus to provinces

When Is NLEX Usually Heavy?

Typical week, hour by hour, for Balintawak to Mindanao Ave.

6a9a12p3p6p9p
Mon
Tue
Wed
Thu
Fri
Sat
Sun
Less
More traffic

Last 7 Days on NLEX

Every incident reported on NLEX per day, Philippine time, as logged by our hourly check. Worst delay is the longest single delay measured that day.

NLEX incidents per day, last 7 days, from our hourly incident log
DayIncidentsAccidentsClosuresRoadworksSlowdownsWorst delay
75 incidents0 accidents1 closures0 roadworks74 slowdowns+30 min
72 incidents0 accidents0 closures0 roadworks72 slowdowns+14 min
72 incidents0 accidents0 closures0 roadworks72 slowdowns+15 min
72 incidents0 accidents0 closures0 roadworks72 slowdowns+14 min
84 incidents0 accidents0 closures0 roadworks84 slowdowns+38 min
63 incidents0 accidents0 closures0 roadworks63 slowdowns+23 min
21 incidents0 accidents0 closures0 roadworks21 slowdowns+5 min
Full 30-day NLEX history

NLEX Emergency Hotline

Call 1-35000 (alternate (02) 8888-6359), answered by NLEX Corporation (Metro Pacific Tollways). Give your km post. For a life-threatening emergency call 911. All expressway hotlines.

Operator
NLEX Corporation (Metro Pacific Tollways)
Speed limit
100 km/h for cars, 80 km/h for trucks/buses. Minimum 60 km/h. Construction zones: 60 km/h.
RFID
Easytrip. How to load and check your Easytrip balance
On the road
  • Keep right except when overtaking, left lane is for faster vehicles
  • Call 1-35000 for roadside assistance and provide your km marker
  • Before a long northbound trip, top up your Easytrip balance; a low balance stops you at the plaza

Before You Drive

NLEX Traffic Questions

What time is NLEX traffic heaviest?

NLEX traffic is heaviest during weekday evening rush from 5-8 PM northbound (Balintawak to Meycauayan). Friday evenings from 4-10 PM see the worst congestion as travelers head to provinces. Morning rush is 7-9 AM southbound toward Manila.

How do I avoid NLEX traffic on Friday nights?

To avoid Friday night NLEX traffic, leave before 3 PM or after 11 PM. If traveling to Pampanga/Tarlac, consider using Skyway Stage 3 to NLEX to skip the Quezon City bottleneck. North of Tabang, traffic usually eases even on Friday evenings.

Which NLEX section has the most traffic?

The Balintawak to Meycauayan section is the most congested part of NLEX. Queues start at Balintawak, where Skyway Stage 3, EDSA and local roads merge, and again at Valenzuela, where Harbor Link trucks join. North of Tabang, traffic is usually light.

Is there an alternate route to avoid NLEX?

Yes, MacArthur Highway (Route 3) runs parallel to NLEX and is toll-free. It passes through Valenzuela, Meycauayan, Marilao, and Bocaue. It is slower, with traffic lights and town centres, but useful when NLEX has major delays or accidents.

What is the NLEX speed limit?

NLEX has a speed limit of 100 km/h for cars and 80 km/h for trucks and buses. Speed limits may be reduced to 60 km/h in construction zones. Minimum speed is 60 km/h on the main expressway.

Does NLEX have emergency hotline?

Yes, NLEX emergency hotline is 1-35000. You can also reach NLEX customer service at (02) 8888-6359. For roadside assistance, call the hotline and provide your location (nearest kilometer post).

Is NLEX passable today?

Yes. As of 20:07, Nov 7, 2026 (PHT), incident reports show 0 accidents, 0 flooding and 0 closures on NLEX. Slowdowns: 7; roadworks: 0. Reported delay: northbound +14 min, southbound +2 min.

How long is NLEX?

NLEX is 88.85 km end to end. Across its 9 monitored segments the drive takes about 56 min at typical speeds, before any reported delay.

Is there a live camera feed for NLEX?

NLEX Corporation posts CCTV snapshots of its toll plazas and interchanges on its Facebook page, shown on this page under "NLEX Corporation says". This page has no video; it shows the hourly incident check and the segment speed feed.

About NLEX traffic: where queues form

NLEX splits into two traffic zones. Balintawak to Tabang carries the heaviest load, the daily commute between Bulacan and Metro Manila. The Valenzuela segment sees heavy truck traffic from Harbor Link merging onto the main expressway.

North of Tabang to Dau, the road is usually free-flowing. The Pulilan, San Fernando and Angeles exits serve industrial and residential traffic and rarely queue onto the main line. At Dau, NLEX meets SCTEX for Clark, Subic and Tarlac.

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