The P6.5-billion rehabilitation of EDSA will begin on 24 December and will be streamlined to last eight months, according to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), to lessen disruption to motorists.

This was announced by DPWH Secretary Vince Dizon during a joint press conference with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Wednesday.

Dizon said the agency will take advantage of the two-week holiday break to start major road works.

The DPWH chief said the rehabilitation will be implemented in two phases and completed within eight months, a significant reduction from the original two-year plan.

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 EDSA.

The original plan for the project was estimated to cost P17 billion and involved full reblocking and overlay using traditional asphalt.

However, the revised approach brings the cost down to P6 billion, resulting in P11 billion in savings, according to the DPWH.

Dizon said that instead of reblocking the entire highway, the DPWH will now reblock only selected sections and use stone mastic asphalt (SMA), a newer and more durable asphalt technology.

He said the updated construction method allows faster completion while ensuring better road quality.

Phase 1 will begin at 11 p.m. on 24 December 2025, with 24-hour construction works continuing until 5 a.m. on 5 January 2026.

During this period, the DPWH will carry out all reblocking works and asphalt overlay of EDSA busway lanes, both northbound and southbound.

After the holiday break, road works will shift to nighttime schedules to reduce traffic congestion:

5 January to 31 May 2026
• Monday to Friday: 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. — asphalt overlay, lane by lane (northbound and southbound)
• Friday to Sunday: 10 p.m. to 4 a.m. — asphalt overlay and reblocking, one lane per bound

The DPWH said affected portions of EDSA will be reopened to traffic by 5 a.m. the following day, in coordination with the MMDA.

Compared with the original plan, which would have caused lane-by-lane disruptions over two years, the revised schedule is expected to result in minimal traffic impact, particularly during daytime hours.

Traffic management measures and advisories, according to the DPWH and MMDA, will be rolled out ahead of the project’s implementation to guide motorists during the rehabilitation period.