Quirino Avenue

President Elpidio Quirino Avenue, more commonly known as Quirino Avenue, is a 6-10 lane divided highway in Manila, Philippines. It runs for 3.6 km in a northeast–southwest direction from Nagtahan Bridge (now Mabini Bridge) across from Santa Mesa in the north to Roxas Boulevard in Malate in the south. It passes through Paco and Pandacan districts where it also serves as a truck route between Port Area and South Luzon Expressway. North of Nagtahan Bridge, the road continues as Nagtahan Street. It is designated as part of Circumferential Road 2. It is named after Elpidio Quirino, the sixth President of the Philippines.

Route description

 * Nagtahan Bridge to Paco-Santa Mesa Road section

The northern end of Quirino Avenue is at the intersection of Paz Mendoza Guazon (Otis) and Jesus Streets in Paco, at the foot of the Nagtahan Bridge as a continuation of Nagtahan Street. Heading south, it enters Pandacan moving past primarily residential areas on both sides, meeting the Nagtahan ramps to and from Skyway Stage 3, and passing by Zamora Market on the west side. At Plaza Berde, the avenue then curves southwest to follow the alignment of the Philippine National Railways line, where it merges with traffic from Paco-Santa Mesa Road (Tomas Claudio Street).


 * Paco-Santa Mesa Road to Osmeña Highway section

South of the junction with Tomas Claudio, the avenue re-enters the district of Paco, where the old Paco station and Plaza Dilao are located. Southbound traffic is currently carried by Plaza Dilao Road, a loop road around Plaza Dilao just off the main highway, while northbound traffic remains on Quirino. Also located along this stretch are the Plaza Dilao on-ramp to Skyway and the Philippine Columbian Association complex on Plaza Dilao and the new Paco railway station near the intersection with Pedro Gil Street. It follows a straight path south towards the border with Malate and is joined by Osmeña Highway.


 * Osmeña Highway to Roxas Boulevard section

The Malate section of Quirino Avenue is primarily residential and commercial. The Singalong area, where the Quirino ramps to and from Skyway is located, lies directly south of the Osmeña Highway junction just before it intersects with Taft Avenue, where the elevated Quirino LRT Station is located. Past Taft Avenue, Quirino provides access to the tourism center of Malate. It curves westwards past Adriatico Street until it meets its southern terminus at Roxas Boulevard, overlooking the Manila Bay. A monument of Elpidio Quirino, to whom the avenue is named after, is also located at the intersection.

Quirino Avenue Extension
Quirino Avenue extends to the industrial area of Paco (Otis) and United Nations Avenue from Plaza Dilao Road. Formerly known as Calle Canonigo, this is the main truck route going in and out of Port Area from Osmeña Highway.

History
The avenue's origin dates back to the early 19th century under Spanish colonial rule, when the avenue was first laid out as Calle Canonigo in Paco. The road leading to Nagtahan Bridge then was a narrow street called Calle Luengo in Pandacan. The narrow street connecting southern Malate to Cavite Boulevard (now Roxas Boulevard) was a street called Calle Cortabitarte.

Built in the 20th century, the avenue was initially known as Dewey Boulevard (for being an erstwhile continuation and a part of the present-day Roxas Boulevard) and as Harrison Boulevard. It was renamed to Koa Boulevard during the World War II and Japanese occupation in 1942. The whole length of the highway that forms part of Circumferential Road 2 was later named in honor of the sixth President of the Philippines, Elpidio Quirino.

Landmarks

 * Aloha Hotel
 * Asociacion de Damas de Filipinas
 * Bureau of Plant Industry
 * Jacinto Zamora Elementary School
 * Manila Zoo
 * Old Paco railway station
 * Ospital ng Maynila Medical Center
 * Malacañang Hospital
 * Manuel Roxas High School
 * Paraiso ng Batang Maynila Park
 * Philippine Columbian Association
 * Plaza Dilao
 * President Elpidio Quirino Monument
 * Saint Peter the Apostle School
 * San Andres Market
 * Zamora Market