Geline Salac

EDSA rehab to begin mid-June; DOTr eyes suspension of toll in parts of SkyWay

Motorists experience bumper-to-bumper traffic along the EDSA-Kamuning Flyover in Quezon City on December 15, 2023. The Department of Transportation (DOTr), through the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) ordered the 24/7 operation of free ride buses along the EDSA Busway throughout the month of December. Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News

Article (news)

Andrea Taguines

ABS-CBN News

David Dizon

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/174773103392620240605-edsa-rain-traffic-JC-2.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" alt="Traffic builds up near the Guadalupe Bridge along EDSA on June 5, 2024 due to a suddendownpour in the metro. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Traffic builds up near the Guadalupe Bridge along EDSA on June 5, 2024 due to a sudden downpour in the metro. <em>Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News/File</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA (<strong>UPDATED</strong>) -- The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Monday confirmed that the major EDSA overhaul will begin by the middle of June, after several delays.</p><p>Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon said the rebuilding project could take about a year and a half, admitting that it would cause even heavier traffic along one of Metro Manila&#x27;s busiest thoroughfares.</p><p>To help mitigate the expected &quot;carmageddon,&quot; Dizon said the DOTr is in &quot;advanced talks&quot; with San Miguel Corp., the operator of the SkyWay, to suspend toll collection in parts of the expressway while the EDSA rebuilding is ongoing.</p><p>&quot;Ang pinakamadaling alternative na dadaanan ay ang SkyWay… Kung yan ay isa&#x27;t kalahating taon, dalawang taon, habang nire-rebuild ang EDSA, ipapalibre natin yung segment ng Skyway na pwedeng umakyat ang mga kababayan natin para hindi na dadaan sa EDSA, aakyat na lang,&quot; said Dizon.</p><p>The Department of Public Works and Highways, the lead agency for the project, said the DOTr, DPWH and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) have already set up a traffic management plan for EDSA, which will identify alternate routes.</p><p>&quot;In a few days we will be able to set up already the traffic management protocols. Anytime within June. Ang importante dito, we have to disseminate the information to the motoring public using EDSA, kung ano yung gagawin at maintindihan nila yung mga scheme,&quot; said DPWH Secretary Manny Bonoan in a TeleRadyo Serbisyo interview.</p><p>Despite the temporary inconvenience to the public, Dizon stressed the need to push through with the EDSA rebuild.</p><p>&quot;Ang vision ng ating pangulo, once and for all, ayusin natin ang EDSA ng pang-matagalan. Last ginawa ‘to 45 to 50 years ago. Sa Balintawak station meron ng tumuklap na konkreto sa busway natin so delikado na yan sa mga bus. Nasisira na yung mga gulong nila dahil nga patse-patse kasi talaga ang trabaho sa EDSA,&quot; he said.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>NCAP TO HELP MANAGE TRAFFIC FLOW</strong></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/okXOFLnkpcQ?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span></div><p>While the MMDA has yet to release a detailed rerouting scheme, it believes the partial lifting of the temporary restraining order against the No Contact Apprehension Policy (NCAP) will surely help manage the flow of traffic along EDSA and other major thoroughfares.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/weather-traffic/2025/5/20/sc-partially-lifts-tro-on-no-contact-apprehension-policy-1536">READ: SC partially lifts TRO on No Contact Apprehension Policy</a></div><p>&quot;Kasi kung may NCAP na, &#x27;yung violators hindi na namin kailangang parahin, magtalo, issuehan physically ng ticket na habang ginagawa yun ay nakakaabala pa sa traffic. Kung may NCAP, tuloy tuloy yung takbo at huhulihin na lang namin through CCTV cameras,&quot; said MMDA Chairman Romando Artes in a separate interview with the media.</p><p>Artes also assured critics that the concerns raised against the previous NCAP guidelines will be addressed, particularly on due process and fines.</p><p>&quot;Under ng single ticketing system, common na yung penalties at hindi siya exorbitant. Second, yung contest mechanism na dapat kami merong sariling online filing… para hindi ka na kailangan pumunta ng MMDA para i-contest,&quot; he said.</p><p>&quot;Although meron na kaming AI na manghuhuli, irereview pa yan manually before masabi na talagang huli para hindi siya sobrang stringent. Like kunyari may obstruction, (kahit) bawal lumipat ng lane, e may obstruction nga diba? So kailangan mong lumipat ng lane,&quot; added Artes.</p><div><br/></div><div><strong>EXCLUSIVE EDSA BUSWAY TO REMAIN</strong></div><p>Dizon reiterated that the EDSA bus carousel will continue to be operational, and will stay exclusive to buses, to cater to the commuting public— which he expects to increase in number once the EDSA rebuild begins.</p><div><a class="fr-green fr-strong" href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/business/2025/4/21/edsa-busway-rehabilitation-bidding-starts-this-week-dotr-chief-2037">READ: EDSA Busway rehabilitation bidding starts this week: DOTr chief</a></div><p>The DOTr and MMDA also continue to work together to improve the busway stations to make them more inclusive and accessible to Persons with Disabilities.</p><p>As of Monday, the DOTr said all of the 18 elevators in six different busway stations are already operational.</p><p>Dizon and Artes also inspected the Philam QC station on Monday to witness the opening of the wheelchair lift, which they plan to replicate in other busway stations.</p><p>&quot;Hindi lahat kayang i-accommodate yung wheelchair-friendly ramp at hindi rin kayang i-accommodate ng espasyo yung elevator kaya kami, on our own, nag-initiate na magkaroon ng wheelchair lift,&quot; said Artes.</p><p>Wheelchair user Ronald Llarenas, who tried the lift for himself, lauded the government&#x27;s initiative.</p><p>&quot;Ngayon ko pa lang po natry lumabas kasi lagi lang ako nasa bahay before e. Mas nabibigyan kami ng kakayahan para makakilos,&quot; he said.</p><div></div>

<p>After several delays, Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon has announced that the EDSA overhaul will begin by mid-June.</p>

After several delays, Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon has announced that the EDSA overhaul will begin by mid-June.