A driver waits for passengers to get on the bus as commuters take advantage of free bus rides at the NEPA Q-Mart Carousel Bus Station on Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) on December 19, 2022. Jonathan Cellona, ABS-CBN News 

MANILA -- While city buses will still have a place in EDSA during the planned rehabilitation of the major thoroughfare this March, they would have to share a lane with private vehicles for the meantime, according to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) on Tuesday. 

According to DPWH National Capital Region Director Loreta Malaluan, the total overhaul of EDSA will begin with the innermost lane or the lane that has been exclusively dedicated to commuter buses.

In particular, the first segment to be reconstructed will be the northbound portion of EDSA from Quezon City/Caloocan boundary to Monumento followed by 15 segments along the southbound lane.

Malaluan assured that the operations of the EDSA bus carousel will continue, it would just be relocated to the next lane, which would no longer be exclusive to buses.

EDSA rehab begins in March, says DPWH

Malaluan told ABS-CBN News that based on the agency’s assessment, the traffic congestion would be much worse if buses would still be given a dedicated lane along EDSA, even while the rehab is ongoing.

“Ganun ang nakikita natin kasi nga pag sarado yung isang lane at nagtatrabaho tayo, edi kokonti yung lanes na magagamit… Four lanes instead na five lanes… Kaya nga for a while, habang nire-rehab natin ang EDSA, ay magsasama muna sila doon sa lane,” she said.

“Sandali lang naman yun e. Pag natapos natin itong ating rehabilitation, magiging exclusive uli sa kanila,” she added.

The major road rehab is seen to last for a year and a half.

Malalauan also assured that there will be a gap in their work area, or in the innermost lane, to allow commuters to still onboard the commuter buses safely.

She said the Department of Transportation (DOTr) is tasked to man these loading areas to make sure the buses do not stay for long.

“Kailangan tuloy-tuloy e. Pagpasok, sakay, labas, ganun para hindi naman magpa-pile up yung buses doon sa shared road natin,” she said.

According to Malaluan, new DOTr Secretary Vince Dizon has also signed on to the idea of a shared road between buses and private vehicles.

The initial EDSA rehabilitation plan is expected to begin before the end of March 2025 and is targeted to be done after a year and a half.

Smooth operations of MRT-3 and Busway eyed amid looming EDSA rehab

The DPWH is just waiting on the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to submit a traffic management plan before commencing road works.

The rehabiliation of the rest of the EDSA northbound lane has yet to be funded.

Malalauan said the DPWH will try to get funding for it under their 2026 budget.