The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) National Capital Region (NCR) said Saturday the rehabilitation of EDSA will start with the closure of the EDSA bus lane.
In an interview on Dobol B TV, DPWH NCR Director Lorie Malaluan said coordination was already ongoing with the Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) regarding the matter.
“Nagmi-meeting po kasi kami, inaayos lang namin ‘yung traffic management with MMDA and also with DOTr. Kasi ang sisimulan natin sa rehab ng EDSA ay ‘yung bus lane,” Malaluan said.
(We are having a meeting, we are just fixing the traffic management with the MMDA and also with DOTr. We will start the rehabilitation of EDSA with the bus lane.)
“Uunahin na natin ‘yung bus lane. Isasarado po as agreed upon naman po with MMDA, mag 24/7 ang trabaho kaya magsasarado po tayo ng ating bus lane,” she added.
(We will prioritize the bus lane. It will be closed as agreed upon with the MMDA. Work will be done 24/7 that’s why we will close our bus lane.)
This means buses will temporarily use other lanes on EDSA, Metro Manila’s main thoroughfare, while repairs on the bus lane are ongoing.
“Ito pong DOTR po ay pinag-aaralan na nila kasi po ang aming proposal ay magiging shared po muna ang mga bus lane while ginagawa po natin o nire-rehabilitate ang EDSA,” she said.
(The DOTR is already studying our proposal to have shared bus lanes while rehabilitation efforts with EDSA are ongoing.)
The MMDA had previously said the rehabilitation of EDSA is expected to begin this March.
Malaluan said rehabilitation will be done on one northbound and 15 southbound segments to improve the road-riding surface, pavement durability, and the overall safety of the riding public.
The project will start with the northbound section, Malaluan said, while awaiting procurement for the southbound segments and the release of allotments from the Department of Budget and Management (DBM).
Repairs at the northbound lane will be from Balintawak to Monumento, while similar works at the southbound lane will start from Monumento to Roxas Boulevard. Rehabilitation efforts include placing reinforcements in EDSA’s concrete pavement, and asphalt overlaying with the introduction of anti-rutting modifiers.
Malaluan said repairs would cost P300 million for one northbound segment, and about P7 billion for 15 southbound segments.
She said the agency has been requested to “fast track” repair works within a year in time for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit 2026 in the Philippines.
Traffic is expected with the EDSA repair works, Malaluan said.
“Pinagtutulungan po namin ng MMDA at ng ating mga LGUs, lahat po ng mga stakeholders na ‘yung impact naman po ng traffic during construction ay medyo maibsan po. Pero may kaunti pa rin pong pag-abala,” she said.
(We are working with the MMDA, our LGUs, and stakeholders to mitigate the impact of traffic during construction. However, there will still be some inconvenience.) — VDV, GMA Integrated News
