MMDA Suspends Odd-Even Scheme as EDSA Rehab Is Put on Hold
Traffic will still suck but at least it's the kind you know.
(SPOT.ph) After weeks of stressing over traffic nightmares and plate-number math, motorists can breathe a little easier for now. The EDSA rehabilitation project has been officially postponed, and with it, the Metro Manila Development Authority’s (MMDA) odd-even traffic scheme has also been put on hold.
This comes after President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. ordered the suspension of the rehabilitation project, citing the need to reassess whether the original plan—with its expected two-year timeline until 2027—was worth the disruption it would cause.
"Pause muna doon sa ating rehabilitation. Huwag muna nating gagawin dahil pag tinitingnan natin ‘yung cost-benefit and analysis, maganda sana kung maayos natin. Ngunit ang laking sakripisyo nu'ng dalawang taon. Masyadong mabigat, mahigpit ang traffic," Marcos said. "Bigyan natin ang sarili natin ng isang buwan. Pag-aralan natin itong bagong teknolohiya na nakikita natin. Gumawa tayo ng magandang plano. Baka naman imbes na dalawang taon, magawa natin sa isang buwan. Tingnan natin kung anong available sa atin."
Preparatory works for the EDSA rehabilitation project were originally slated to start on June 16 to address the crumbling condition of the 23.8-kilometer thoroughfare, which had not been fully rehabilitated in more than 40 years. Plans included phased construction: southbound in 2025, northbound in 2026, with upgrades to road surfaces, drainage systems, and pedestrian access. The goal was to finally put an end to the cycle of frequent reblocking fixes that happen every few months. It looks like that will have to wait for now.
Also read: Everything You Need to Know About the Odd-Even Scheme Along EDSA
What happens to the odd-even scheme along EDSA?
The suspension of the EDSA rehabilitation puts the brakes on the odd-even traffic scheme, which was set for a one-month dry run also beginning June 16.
Under the proposed scheme, vehicles with odd-numbered plates would have been prohibited from using EDSA on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, while those with even-numbered plates would have been restricted on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays as a way to ease the anticipated traffic congestion.
“The postponement will give us time to look for other traffic mitigating options for the EDSA Rebuild which will be less than burdensome to motorists and commuting public,” MMDA Chairman Don Artes said in a statement.
For now, the MMDA will continue to implement the existing number coding scheme on EDSA. Further announcements on the revised schedule and traffic management plans are expected once the one-month review period is completed.
Also read: No Contact Apprehension Is Back on Major Roads: What Motorists Need to Know