PUBLIC Works and Highways Secretary Vince Dizon on Monday expressed confidence that the EDSA Rehabilitation Initiative would be completed by next year, using modern technology to fast-track the project.
President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has ordered the continuous upgrading of EDSA to provide a safer, smoother and more efficient travel experience for commuters and motorists.
Dizon made a surprise inspection Monday of the work site to highlight the transition to Phase 2, which involved newly paved asphalt sections, expansion of sidewalks, and larger drainage inlets to mitigate flooding, particularly during heavy rains.
He said the newly asphalted sections from Guadalupe in Makati City to Boni Avenue in Mandaluyong City could be opened to motorists on Monday.
The second phase covers the Orense area in Makati all the way to Monumento in Caloocan City.
A key component of the project is the expansion and improvement of sidewalks to provide safer and more comfortable access for pedestrians.
“From the previous 1.2 to 1.5 meters, we are expanding the EDSA sidewalks to a much wider 3.2 meters so that these can safely accommodate both pedestrians and cyclists, keeping bikes off the main vehicular carriageway,” Dizon said.
Drainage inlets along the highway would also be enlarged to two to three times their original size to improve water flow and prevent flash floods, he said.
Dizon said he will be making surprise inspections from time to time.
He added that the EDSA repair works are “part of a long-term effort to upgrade critical transport infrastructure and improve connectivity across the National Capital Region.”
