The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will carry out its EDSA rehabilitation project this year. While the agency hasn’t given an exact date as to when it will launch this massive undertaking, other reports have cited a possible start in March 2025.
Secretary Manuel Bonoan of the DPWH stated in a recent interview that the P7-billion project should be finished before the end of the year. He did later on concede that the project could spill over into 2026 given that the rehabilitation efforts will be done in segments.
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EDSA is one of the busiest and most important thoroughfares in Metro Manila. The rehabilitation project will probably cause more traffic in some areas, forcing motorists to take alternative routes.
You probably have a lot of questions about the project, and so we will attempt to answer your most pressing concerns. We will also be providing updates as more information is released.
What exactly will the EDSA rehab project do?
In the aforementioned interview, Bonoan said, “It’s about time we rehabilitate EDSA once and for all.” One of the main goals of the project is to cut down on repairs and maintenance in the long run. After the project is completed, there should be no more road reblocking for the next 10 or 15 years, according to the DPWH.
Now, for the project itself. The DPWH said its overall objective is to give motorists and commuters a smoother and more comfortable riding experience on EDSA. The project aims to do this through measures like fixing potholes and other road damage, and giving the highway a new, stronger layer of asphalt.
The DPWH did not mention if there would be any changes to the lane divisions or the layout of the road.
How long will the project take?
As mentioned, the DPWH did not disclose an official start date for the project. While other news outlets have reported on a possible March 2025 start, the DPWH did mention that it aims to complete the rehabilitation before the end of 2025. Bonoan noted a possible extension to 2026 given the sheer amount of work to be done.
That said, the Philippines will be hosting the 2026 ASEAN Summit, so that could provide the DPWH with a hard deadline for the completion of the project.
Where will the project start?
While the DPWH said that the EDSA rehab project will be carried out in segments, the agency did not specifically say where the repairs will start or end along the 24km thoroughfare.
You may recall that the Guadalupe Bridge is set to be closed for 17 months beginning October 2025 for its own rehabilitation and reinforcement project. It is unclear whether the Guadalupe Bridge will serve as its own segment of the EDSA rehab project, or if the DPWH will run two separate rehab initiatives on that part of EDSA in October.
Will the operations of the EDSA Busway and the MRT-3 be affected?
The EDSA Rehab Project will only fix up the private vehicle lanes on the highway—leaving the EDSA Busway and the MRT-3 unaffected.
This could bring an influx of commuters into buses and the train system, which the Department of Transportation (DOTr) is already expecting. The DOTr has also confirmed that throughout the duration of the project, it will work closely with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the DPWH to ensure that bus and train operations will not be affected.
