Manuel L. Quezon Avenue, more often called Quezon Avenue or simply Quezon Ave, is a major thoroughfare in Metro Manila named after President Manuel Luis Quezon, the second president of the Philippines. The avenue starts at the Quezon Memorial Circle and runs through to the Welcome Rotonda near the boundary of Quezon City and Manila.
Lined with palm trees and other species of tree on its center island and spanning six to fourteen lanes, it is a major north-south and east-west corridor of Quezon City. Many government and commercial buildings line the road. At its north end, Triangle Park, one of Quezon City's Central Business Districts, is the third most important industrial center in the city. At its south end, it connects Quezon City to the capital Manila. It is a regular route for vehicles from Quezon City leading to Manila, as the highway provides access to Quiapo and the University Belt.
History
The avenue was developed as part of a road plan to connect the government center of
Manila in
Rizal Park to the proposed new capital on the Diliman Estate.
It was also referred to as
Quezon Boulevard Extension,
Calle España, and
Malawen Boulevard.
During World War II, its section in Diliman Estate served as a runway of the Quezon Airfield, along with the Manila Circumferential Road (now
EDSA).
The road, much like Commonwealth Avenue, was then named Don Mariano Marcos Avenue to honor Mariano Marcos, the father of President Ferdinand Marcos. The road was renamed Quezon Avenue after former president Manuel Quezon following the 1986 People Power Revolution with the ascension of Corazon Aquino as president. It originally started at EDSA, but the portion between the Elliptical Road and EDSA, which used to be named Commonwealth Avenue extension, became a part of the road. With the passing of the 1987 Constitution, Quezon City had four legislative districts until two new districts were added in 2013. The west of Quezon Avenue constitutes the first district, while the east constitutes the fourth district.
U-turn slots
In 2003, after the perceived effectiveness of
EDSA, Commonwealth Avenue and Marcos Highway, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) implemented the "clearway scheme"; this prohibited crossings and left turns on the avenue. In place of left turns, the MMDA has constructed
away from the intersections to allow vehicles to reach their destination.
The MMDA would later backpedal on the scheme in 2014 by reverting some intersections along Quezon Avenue to traffic light-signalized ones.
Quezon Avenue–Araneta Avenue underpass
In June 2011, a four-lane
underpass was started along the Gregorio Araneta Avenue Intersection. The construction was slated to take up to 15 months.
In September 2012, President Benigno Aquino III opened the underpass to the public. The project cost or below the budget allocated.
Motorcycle lanes
In 2012, the MMDA instituted
on the avenue. The lanes are painted blue and are meant exclusively for motorcycle riders. This comes after the effectiveness of the "blue lanes" on
EDSA, Commonwealth Avenue, and Macapagal Boulevard, although the blue lane on EDSA is not exclusive to motorcycles.
Elevated expressway
Initially suggested in 1993 as part of a study conducted by the Japan International Cooperation Agency,
the intended elevated R-7 Expressway will traverse above the existing roads, linking the Metro Manila Skyway to Commonwealth Avenue.
Planned busway system (Bus Rapid Transit)
In 2017, the
World Bank granted a loan for building a bus rapid transit line along Quezon Avenue, but this project was put on hold in 2022.
In 2025, Secretary of Transportation
Vince Dizon announced that Quezon Avenue and España Boulevard will be equipped with their own busway system.
Intersections
Landmarks
Starting from its western terminus:
-
Welcome Rotonda
-
Santo Domingo Church
-
Fisher Mall
-
Delta Theatre (Dela Merced Building, soon-to-be-converted by DMCI into a mixed-use residential project)
-
Crossings Department Store and Supermarket
-
Capitol Medical Center
-
The Skysuites Tower
-
DILG-NAPOLCOM Center
-
Eton Centris
-
Bantayog ng mga Bayani Center
-
Quezon Avenue Station construction,
-
Balik Probinsya Depot
-
National Power Corporation
-
National Transmission Corporation
-
National Grid Corporation of the Philippines
-
Philippine Children's Medical Center
-
Lung Center of the Philippines
-
Ninoy Aquino Parks & Wildlife Center
-
Quezon Memorial Circle
See also
-
Commonwealth Avenue, eastern extension of Quezon Avenue starting from the Quezon Memorial Circle
-
España Boulevard, western extension of Quezon Avenue starting from Mabuhay Rotonda.
-
Major roads in Metro Manila
