The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) has announced the start of the long-delayed rehabilitation of Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) on December 24, 2025. The project's timeline has been shortened from the original two years to eight months to minimize disruption to motorists. DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon stated that the two-week holiday break will be used to begin major road works. Under the updated schedule, the rehabilitation will be carried out in two phases and completed within eight months. From January 5 to May 31, 2026, asphalt overlay works will be conducted from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m., lane by lane, on weekdays, while reblocking and overlay of one lane per direction will be done from Friday to Sunday during the same hours. DPWH said affected portions of EDSA will be reopened to traffic by 5 a.m. the following day, in coordination with the MMDA. Authorities said the revised schedule is expected to result in minimal traffic impact, particularly during daytime hours, compared with the original plan. The DPWH and MMDA said traffic management measures and advisories will be released ahead of the project's implementation to guide motorists during the rehabilitation period. During this period, DPWH will undertake reblocking works and asphalt overlay of the EDSA Busway lanes in both northbound and southbound directions. After the holiday break, construction will shift to nighttime schedules to ease traffic congestion. 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 the highway. The revised approach also cuts the project cost to P6 billion from the initial P17 billion estimate, translating to P11 billion in savings, according to the DPWH. Instead of full reblocking and traditional asphalt overlay, the agency will reblock only selected sections and use stone mastic asphalt (SMA), which Dizon described as a more durable material that allows faster construction while improving road quality. Phase 1 will start at 11 p.m. on December 24, 2025, with 24-hour construction works continuing until 5 a.m. on January 5, 2026. Quote: "Instead of full reblocking and traditional asphalt overlay, the agency will reblock only selected sections and use stone mastic asphalt (SMA), which Dizon described as a more durable material that allows faster construction while improving road quality."
