Edsa busway rehab over; operations back to normal
Edsa busway passengers can look forward to a smoother and faster commute after the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) completed the rehabilitation of the dedicated bus lane along Metro Manila’s busiest road.
“The dedicated inner busway lane along the northbound and southbound sections of Edsa, from Roxas Boulevard to Orense, has returned to normal operations following the completion of the asphalt overlay on the busway lane, which is part of the Edsa rehabilitation project,” the Department of Transportation (DOTr) said on Monday.
“We are grateful to the DPWH under the leadership of Secretary Vince Dizon because they quickly completed the rehabilitation of the busway lane. This is great timing because it is back to school and work for many passengers who can be assured of a faster and more convenient trip using the busway,” acting Transportation Secretary Giovanni Lopez said.
According to the DOTr, busway drivers and passengers noticed the “smoother rides” and “faster travel” along Edsa on Monday.
Ban on private cars
Lopez, meanwhile, reminded the public that private vehicles continue to be banned from using the dedicated bus lane.
“Private vehicles are not allowed to pass through the Edsa busway. That is our frequent reminder. Our SAICT (Special Action and Intelligence Committee for Transportation) personnel are always on alert to catch private vehicles passing through the busway, and the MMDA (Metropolitan Manila Development Authority) will also continue to implement the No Contact Apprehension Policy,” he said.
Road issues
In a joint inspection on Dec. 9, officials of the DOTr and the DPWH walked along Edsa from Ayala Avenue to Roxas Boulevard to help them identify the issues on the major road, which is currently undergoing rehabilitation.
Among the things they noticed were the lack of accessibility, unwalkable sidewalks, dark pathways and road obstructions.
The P6-billion Edsa rehabilitation began on Dec. 24 and is expected to be completed after eight months.
From Dec. 24 until Jan. 5, work was done round the clock. But from Jan. 6 until May 31, rehabilitation efforts will be carried out only at certain times of the day—specifically from 10 p.m. to 4 a.m.—with the affected road portions to be opened to the public at 5 a.m.
From Mondays to Fridays until May 31, asphalt overlaying will be conducted lane by lane (northbound and southbound). On the other hand, from Fridays to Sundays, asphalt overlaying and reblocking will be done on just one lane each, on both the northbound and southbound sides of Edsa.
