The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) will begin a massive rehabilitation of EDSA on 24 December, utilizing a specialized Japanese asphalt technology to cut a two-year construction timeline down to just eight months.

DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon announced the revised plan Wednesday, stating the agency will take advantage of the two-week holiday break to launch major road works.

The project was redesigned following a directive from President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to find a faster, more economical solution that minimizes disruption for the millions of commuters and motorists using the capital’s main thoroughfare.

The first phase of the project focuses on the stretch from Roxas Boulevard in Pasay to Orense Street in Makati. Intensive 24-hour construction will begin at 11 p.m. on Christmas Eve and continue through 5 a.m. on 5 January 2026.

During this initial 12-day window, crews will perform reblocking and asphalt overlay on the EDSA busway lanes in both directions.

Starting 5 January, the schedule will shift to nighttime operations to avoid daytime congestion. From Monday to Friday, work will take place between 10 p.m. and 4 a.m. for lane-by-lane asphalt overlay.

Weekend schedules will include both reblocking and overlay during the same nighttime hours, with all affected lanes reopened to traffic by 5 a.m. the following day.

A key component of the accelerated schedule is the use of Stone Mastic Asphalt, a durable material that allows for faster installation and better road quality than traditional asphalt.