Rehabilitation of Metro Manila's main highway, the 23.8-kilometer Epifanio delos Santos Avenue or Edsa, may start on March 24, the Department of Public Works and Highways - National Capital Region (DPWH-NCR) said on Tuesday.

In a radio interview on Tuesday, DPWH-NCR Director Lorie Malaluan said the first segment of the project will start from the northbound lane of the Caloocan and Quezon City boundary to Monumento.

"One of our projects or segments will begin on March 24 in northbound (lane). This is from the boundary of Caloocan and Quezon City to Monumento Circle", Malaluan said.

"After that, once we finish processing our documents for the ... we will then begin (the rehabilitation of) the southbound lane of Edsa", Malaluan added.

Malaluan said the northbound segment of Edsa is expected to be finished around six months while the rehabilitation of the southbound lane will take up to a year and six months.

DPWH said in an advisory that the implementation of the rehabilitation will be by segments and "one lane at a time starting from the EDSA bus lane".

A lay-by portion for each station of the Edsa Busway will remain open for commuters while the rehabilitation takes place.

"The DPWH-NCR assures that the EDSA bus carousel will remain operational, however, it will be temporarily relocated on its adjacent lane, while EDSA bus stations remain open for the commuters", DPWH added. Marie Manalili/DMS