MMDA: Edsa rehabilitation may push through in 2016

EDSA turns into a parking lot at rush hour on Monday but expect traffic to turn for the worse next year when the busy thoroughfare undergoes a major renovation. GRIG C. MONTEGRANDE

The much-delayed rehabilitation of Edsa may push through next year.

Following a meeting between Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chair Francis Tolentino and Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson on Monday, the two officials agreed that the P3.74-billion project would start after the completion of two other infrastructure works early next year—the repair of Dario Bridge in Quezon City and the renovation of the Magallanes Interchange.

Earlier, the MMDA defended its decision not to approve the Edsa rehabilitation project, saying it wanted “to help commuters and motorists.”

According to Tolentino, the project would have created more massive traffic jams especially since there were several ongoing major road works like the Skyway Stage 3 project.

Singson told the Inquirer on Sunday that his department had decided to scrap for now the Edsa rehabilitation project after it failed to get a permit from the MMDA, which has the final say on all road works in Metro Manila.

Tolentino said that although the project was important, it could wait while other major road works were still being implemented.

According to him, the renovation of the busiest thoroughfare was expected to raise the height of the pavement by eight inches (from SM Mall of Asia in Pasay City to Balintawak in Quezon City).

Construction by phases

Tolentino suggested that the rehabilitation be done in phases like the Skyway project, which is currently causing heavy traffic on Osmeña Avenue in Makati City.

“Actually, the Edsa rehabilitation project should have started way back in 2005 but it never pushed through because it would cause disorder along the major thoroughfare,” he said.

The Edsa rehabilitation project was earlier announced in 2013 with a target completion date of February 2015. After announcing that the Department of Public Works and Highways was scrapping the program, Singson expressed hope that they would be allowed to renovate a portion of it, particularly the stretch between Guadalupe and Gil Puyat Avenue in Makati City. -Maricar Brizuela