Metro Manila, Philippines – The first phase of the delayed rehabilitation of Metro Manila’s main highway – Epifanio de los Santos Ave. (EDSA) – will begin on Christmas eve with a shorter work schedule.
In a press briefing on Wednesday, Dec. 17, Public Works Secretary Vince Dizon presented the new plan that will be completed in eight months instead of the original two years.
He said the first phase will focus on Roxas Blvd. in Pasay City to Orense in Makati City from Dec. 24 to the end of April, but may extend until May 31.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will select areas for road reblocking.
“Base sa assessment ng ating mga engineers, hindi na ang buong EDSA ang kailangan i-reblock, bungkalin, wasakin. May portion lang talaga,” he said.
[Translation: Based on our engineers’ assessment, it’s not necessary to reblock, dig up, or redo the entire EDSA. There’s really just a specific portion that needs it.]
Dizon said the first phase would cover areas that need extensive repairs from Roxas Boulevard to Taft Avenue.
Schedule, equipment
From 11 p.m. of Dec. 24 to 4 a.m. of Jan. 5, all reblocking works and asphalt overlay on the innermost lane – or the EDSA busway – will be carried out round the clock.
Dizon said asphalt overlay beginning Jan. 5 will be done from 10 am to 4 pm, lane by lane.
Weekend road works will follow the same schedule.
He said the DPWH will be using new technology called stone mastic asphalt.
“Ito mas matibay, mas madaling i-maintain, mas mahaba ang maintenance life ng aspaltong ito,” Dizon said, noting that the asphalt is being used for road works in Japan.
[Translation: This is more durable, easier to maintain, and has a longer maintenance life.]
The budget funding was also substantially reduced from P17 billion to P6 billion.
“Kailangan i-assess natin kasi ang aspalto hindi ‘yan pwede ilatag kapag tuloy tuloy ang ulan,” Dizon said when asked about their target for the second phase of rehabilitation from Orense, Makati City to Caloocan City.
[Translation: We need to assess (when to resume) because we can’t lay this asphalt when rains are continuous.]
In June, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. hit the brakes on the original plan after drawing flak for expected traffic woes and for initially beginning works during the rainy season.
Interventions
Acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez said the EDSA busway will remain operational for the entire rehabilitation.
He said the bus system has 260 and may be augmented if needed.
“Kapag aayusin na po ‘yung innermost lane, ililipat natin ‘yung bus lane to the second line from the median. Kapag naayos iyan hopefully by Jan. 5 ibabalik natin again with barriers and proper markings po,” Lopez said.
[Translation: When we begin fixing the innermost lane, we will move the bus lane to the second lane from the median. Once that is fixed, hopefully by Jan. 5, we will put it back again with barriers and proper marking.]
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Romando Artes said the number coding scheme stays.
The MMDA was earlier criticized for the proposed expanded odd-even-scheme – which would prohibit private vehicles on EDSA on certain days – when the original plan was released to the public.
Artes and Lopez said there is no need to tap tollway operators to waive fines at the Skyway as initially proposed.
The transportation chief said while the MRT-3 can no longer extend operating hours, more trains may be deployed to transport an expected higher number of commuters.
