The Department of Public Works and Highways will close the EDSA bus lane in the coming weeks to give way for the rehabilitation of the longest road in Metro Manila.
DPWH-National Capital Region Director Lorie Malaluan said repairs will start from the northbound lane of Balintawak to Monumento, while similar works at the southbound lane will start from Monumento to Roxas Boulevard.
The DPWH is now coordinating with the Department of Transportation and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority to commence the road repair costing P300 million for one northbound segment, and about P7 billion for 15 southbound segments.
The DOTr earlier said the EDSA busway served over 63 million commuters in 2024. In January 2025 alone, it served over 5.5 million passengers or an average of 177,000 daily commuters.
In a radio interview, Malaluan said rehabilitation works include placing reinforcements in EDSA’s concrete pavement, and asphalt overlaying with the introduction of anti-rutting modifiers.
The agency has been asked to expedite the repair works to ensure their completion within a year in preparation for the Philippine hosting of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit 2026.
The DPWH official said traffic is expected with the EDSA repair works.
Malaluan said the department is actively collaborating with the MMDA, local government units, and various stakeholders to alleviate the effects of traffic during the construction phase.
Construction activities will take place around the clock, necessitating the closure of the bus lane, the DPWH added.
As a result, buses will temporarily utilize alternative lanes on EDSA, the primary thoroughfare of Metro Manila, during the ongoing repairs to the bus lane.
Meanwhile, the DOTR is already studying the DPWH’s proposal to have shared bus lanes while rehabilitation efforts in EDSA are ongoing.
Both the DPWH and MMDA had previously said the rehabilitation of EDSA is expected to begin this March.