EDSA rehab to start Dec. 24; DPWH cuts timeline to 8 months

The long-delayed rehabilitation of EDSA will begin on December 24, with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) shortening the project timeline to just eight months to lessen disruption to motorists.

DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon announced the revised plan during a joint press conference with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Wednesday, saying the agency will take advantage of the two-week holiday break to start major road works.

Dizon said the rehabilitation will be implemented in two phases and completed within eight months, a significant reduction from the original two-year plan.

The first four months will cover the stretch from Roxas Boulevard to EDSA-Orense, while the remaining four months will focus on the rest of EDSA.

Under the old plan, the project was estimated to cost P17 billion and involved full reblocking and overlay using traditional asphalt.

The revised approach brings the cost down to P6 billion, resulting in P11 billion in savings, according to the DPWH.

New asphalt technology

Instead of reblocking the entire highway, DPWH will now reblock only selected sections and use stone mastic asphalt (SMA), a newer and more durable asphalt technology.

Dizon said the updated construction method allows faster completion while ensuring better road quality.

Holiday construction schedule

Phase 1 will begin at 11 p.m. on December 24, 2025, with 24-hour construction works continuing until 5 a.m. on January 5, 2026.

During this period, DPWH will carry out all reblocking works and asphalt overlay of EDSA busway lanes, both northbound and southbound.

After the holiday break, road works will shift to nighttime schedules to reduce traffic congestion:

January 5 to May 31, 2026:

• Monday to Friday: 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. — asphalt overlay, lane by lane (northbound and southbound)
• Friday to Sunday: 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. — asphalt overlay and reblocking, one lane per bound

DPWH said affected portions of EDSA will be reopened to traffic by 5 a.m. the following day, in coordination with the MMDA.

Minimal disruption expected

Compared with the original plan, which would have caused lane-by-lane disruptions over two years, the revised schedule is expected to result in minimal traffic impact, particularly during daytime hours.

The DPWH and MMDA said traffic management measures and advisories will be rolled out ahead of the project’s implementation to guide motorists during the rehabilitation period. —KG, GMA Integrated News