Every 3 years a restoration has to be taken place for the Shwedagon Pagoda to repair materials where needed and some new gold plate covering. There is not an exact date till how long this process will last, but it will probably last until March 2012.
The restoration has started since this month and in a few weeks the main pagoda will be enshrouded in canvas or cloth covering and has bamboo support structures for the workers around it. The entire shape of the pagoda is still visible though and some areas may still be seen without work going on. Since the Shwedagon pagoda complex is a very large place, the area with smaller statues, temples et cetera around the main pagoda, still has the same great ambiance as always.
So a visit to the Shwedagon complex in Yangon is still well worthwhile!