The government is set to reintroduce the “odd-even” scheme on private vehicles while waiving toll fees on portions of the Skyway Stage 3 to ease the swelling of traffic once the rehabilitation of the 23.8-kilometer Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA) gets underway.
In a press briefing yesterday, heads of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Department of Transportation (DOTr), and Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) outlined their plans to ensure the safe and smooth flow of traffic during the project’s anticipated two-year span.
DPWH Secretary Manuel Bonoan said that preparatory work for the EDSA Rebuild, which will put in place sturdier pavement, is scheduled to begin on June 13.
The project is part of President Marcos’ “Build Better More” push, envisioned as a long-term solution to the dilemma of pothole patching using reinforced concrete to strengthen road integrity against high vehicular volume.
The DPWH will employ several contractors simultaneously to hasten the project’s completion, he said.
“With the enforcement of the odd-even scheme, we are expecting a 40% reduction of vehicles along EDSA,” said MMDA Chairman Don Artes.
Under this scheme, vehicles with license plates ending in odd numbers (1, 3, 5, 7, and 9) will not be allowed to use EDSA on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.
Conversely, vehicles with license plates ending in even numbers (2, 4, 6, 8, and 0) will be prohibited from traversing EDSA on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays. Sundays will be free for all vehicles.
Artes also noted that starting June 16, trucks and provincial buses will only be permitted to use EDSA from 10 p.m. to 5 a.m. to help mitigate traffic congestion.
While EDSA will be shifting to the “odd-even” scheme next month, the current “number coding” scheme will still be enforced in other Metro Manila thoroughfares, he pointed out.
For his part, Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon said that making Skyway Stage 3 toll-free is one of the key interventions planned to address the expected heavy traffic during EDSA’s rehabilitation.
This measure is being taken as Skyway Stage 3 is considered the most effective alternative route to mitigate the anticipated traffic congestion.
However, Dizon clarified the free toll will only apply to a portion of Skyway Stage 3 and will begin once the EDSA reconstruction is in “full blast.”
“Maybe the Skyway toll-free towards July or August .. We need the approval from TRB [Toll Regulatory Board],” he said, adding that the government will give San Miguel some reprieve for the lost revenue from the free Skyway toll.
Dizon also confirmed that the dedicated EDSA Busway will remain operational during the EDSA Rebuild.
The DOTr will also add units to the EDSA Bus Carousel system and more trains to the MRT 3 to encourage more people to take public transportation, the transport chief said.
