The development of the major road network in Manila was first conceived in the Metropolitan Thoroughfare Plan of 1945, predicting that the metropolis in the 1940s will 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. Since roads were already existing, the concept was to just connect short road segments to form C-2. To be joined are Calle Capulong, Calle Tayuman, Governor Forbes, Calle Nagtahan found north of the Pasig River, and Calle Canonigo in the south bank of the Pasig. The Nagtahan Bridge, the widest bridge crossing the Pasig River until it was surpassed by the Guadalupe Bridge in 1963, connected these two sections. The older roads date back to the early 19th century under Spanish rule. Calle Canonigo was laid out to connect Plaza Dilao / Paco railroad station to Calle Isaac Peral. The road perpendicular to Canonigo leading to Pasig River was a narrow street called Calle Luengo in Pandacan. A 1934 map of Manila by the YMCA shows Calle Tayuman starts at Calle Sande / Juan Luna and ends near the San Lazaro Hippodrome. The road then connects to Calle Governor Forbes which stretches until Calle Lealtad. Calle Nagtahan connects the Santa Mesa Rotonda up to the Pasig River. South of the Pasig, only Calle Canonigo was existing. Harrison Boulevard was then built during the Commonwealth period to connect Calle Herrán to Dewey Boulevard. Eventually, Calle Luego was extended to Calle Herran.
Route
Capulong Street
Also known as the C-2 Road, Capulong Street starts from Mel Lopez Boulevard and ends in Juan Luna Street. It becomes the Tayuman Street after crossing Juan Luna Street. It is the main thoroughfare of the Tondo district of Manila.
Tayuman Street
Tayuman Street is a 4-lane main thoroughfare of the districts of Tondo and Santa Cruz. It starts from the Juan Luna Street and ends in a junction with Lacson Avenue. The entire road is considered as a part of the C-2 Road.
Lacson Avenue
Formerly known as Governor Forbes Avenue, the C-3 segment of Lacson Avenue starts from the junction of Tayuman and Consuelo Streets in Santa Cruz and ends at the Nagtahan Interchange at the boundaries of Sampaloc and Santa Mesa, skirting the old San Lazaro Hippodrome.
Nagtahan Street
Nagtahan Street connects the Nagtahan Interchange with Mabini Bridge within the district of Santa Mesa.
Quirino Avenue starts from the southern end of Mabini Bridge at the junction of Paz Mendoza Guazon and Jesus Streets in Paco and ends at Roxas Boulevard in Manila.
Major Intersections
Intersections indicated in bold are intersections with stoplights.
