Quezon Avenue

Manuel L. Quezon Avenue, more often called as Quezon Avenue, or simply Quezon Ave (pronounced: Ke-zon-Av), is a 6.1 km 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, the Triangle Park, one of Quezon City's Central Business District, is the third most important industrial center in the city. At its south end, it connects Quezon City to the Philippine's capital – Manila. It is a regular route for vehicles from Quezon City leading to Manila, as the highway provide 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 the 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 starts 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 effective 2013. The west of the Quezon Avenue constitutes the first district, while the east constitutes the fourth district.

U-turn slots
In 2003, after the perceived effectiveness in EDSA, Commonwealth Avenue and Marcos Highway, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) implemented the "clearway scheme"; this has prohibited crossings and left turns on the avenue. In lieu of left turns, the MMDA has constructed U-turn slots 100 to 200 m 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 back to traffic light-signalized ones.

Quezon Avenue–Araneta Avenue underpass
In June 2011, a 440 m 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 ₱452 million or below the ₱534 million budget allocated for it.

Motorcycle lanes
In 2012, the MMDA instituted motorcycle lanes in the avenue. The lanes are painted blue and are meant exclusively for the use of motorcycle riders. This comes after the successful use of the "blue lanes" on EDSA, Commonwealth Avenue, and Macapagal Boulevard, although the blue lane on EDSA is not exclusive to motorcycles.

Landmarks
Starting from its western terminus:
 * Mabuhay 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
 * Balik Probinsya, Bagong Pag-asa 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