Can EDSA's rehabilitation this year end Manila’s traffic nightmare?

Dubai: The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) announced on Wednesday that it will rehabilitate the entire stretch of EDSA in 2025.

Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA), spanning 23.8 kilometers, is a vital circumferential highway that connects several key cities in Metro Manila. It is notorious for its chronic traffic congestion, which has become a defining characteristic of the road.

DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan confirmed the rehabilitation project during a televised interview.

“We will rehabilitate the entire EDSA starting in 2025,” Bonoan stated.

He emphasized that improving the riding quality along EDSA is one of the priority projects of Philippines President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

While Bonoan did not provide further details about the project, he expressed confidence that the rehabilitation would be completed within the same year.

A January 2024 report by the TomTom Traffic Index ranked Metro Manila as having the worst traffic congestion in the world among metropolitan areas.