The development of a major road network in Manila was first conceived in the Metropolitan Thoroughfare Plan of 1945, predicting that the metropolis would expand further to the shorelines of Laguna de Bay. The plan proposed the laying of circumferential roads 1 to 6 and radial roads 1 to 10.[4]
The concept was to connect already existing short road segments to form C-2. To be joined are Calle Kapulong (Capulong), Calle Tayuman, Calle Governor Forbes, Calle Nagtahan found north of the Pasig River, and Calle Canonigo on the south bank of the Pasig.[5] The Nagtahan Bridge, the widest bridge crossing the Pasig River until it was surpassed by the Guadalupe Bridge in 1963, connected these two sections.
A 1915 map of Manila shows that Calle Kapulong was a proposed short street accessible via Calle Velasquez.[5] A 1934 map of Manila by the YMCA shows Calle Tayuman starting at Calle Sande (now Nicolas Zamora Street) and Calle Juan Luna and ending near the San Lazaro Hippodrome.[8] The road then connects to Calle Governor Forbes (now Lacson Avenue), which stretches until Calle Lealtad (now Fajardo). Calle Nagtahan connects the Santa Mesa Rotonda to the Pasig River. South of the river, only Calle Canonigo was existing. Harrison Boulevard (now Quirino Avenue) was then built during the Commonwealth period to connect Calle Herrán (now Pedro Gil Street) to Dewey Boulevard (now Roxas Boulevard). Eventually, Calle Luengo was extended to Calle Herran.
Route description
Capulong Street
Also known as the C-2 Road, Capulong Street starts from Mel Lopez Boulevard, a part of Radial Road 10 (R-10), and ends at Juan Luna Street. It is the main thoroughfare of the district of Tondo in Manila.
Tayuman Street is a four-lane main thoroughfare of the districts of Tondo and Santa Cruz. It starts from Juan Luna Street and ends at a junction with Lacson Avenue. The entire road is considered a part of the C-2 Road.
Formerly known as Governor Forbes Avenue, the C-2 segment of Lacson Avenue starts from the junction of Tayuman and Consuelo Streets in Santa Cruz and ends at Nagtahan Interchange, skirting the old San Lazaro Hippodrome.
Nagtahan Street
Nagtahan Street connects the Nagtahan Interchange with Mabini Bridge (Nagtahan Bridge).[9]
Quirino Avenue starts at the southern end of Mabini Bridge at the junction of Paz Mendoza Guazon (formerly Otis) and Jesus Streets in Paco and ends at Roxas Boulevard, a part of Radial Road 1 (R-1), in Malate.[10]