EDSA: History, Highway 54, Skyway Project
This is just a quick post on the real story behind Highway 54, the old name of the historic avenue known today as EDSA.
Why was EDSA formerly called Highway 54?
Answer: Some people say it's because EDSA is 54 kilometers to which no truth to the claim (or probably the government indicated 54 kilometers on the contract price but actually built 24 kilometers, pocketed the cost of the 20 kilometers (missing miles) :) while some say because there were 53 other roads constructed before it. But to give a reliable source on this one, it was called Highway 54 mainly because it was built in 1954 and is generally 54 meters wide (Source: Arch. Felino Palafox, asked by Tutubi at an Urban Planning talk sponsored by BAIPHIL some time ago)
Highway 54 is also a commercial building in front of SM Megamall in Mandaluyong, the home of Hway Cafe, St. Augustine School of Nursing and other establishments.
How long is EDSA in kilometers?
It's about 24 kilometers in length. Note: Tutubi travels EDSA from Munoz (COngressional Avenue/Roosevelt Avenue in Quezon City) to Sen. Gil Puyat Avenue in Makati regularly and knows that the stretch is around 12 kilometers. Add the distance of Munoz to Monumento plus Buendia to Roxas Boulevard and you'll be complete (unless you also add the extension going to SM Mall of Asia (MOA))
How about the planned second level EDSA Skyway?
It's a planned second level on top of the old EDSA being studied by the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) for 2012 budget. Either a second level road or a SMART tunnel to double as a flood water collector. Just what EDSA needs as road widening is impractical. Proposed start of construction is next year but will be finished far beyond president Aquino's term.
Are there alternative route to EDSA going from QC to Makati?
C5 is one but for me, I take Araneta Avenue, N. DOmingo, Blumentritt then the inner circuitous roads of San Juan going to Maysilo, Mandaluyong, to Makati Avenue.
Last tip from Tutubi:
to Monitor EDSA traffic, here's a live traffic monitoring system by the Metropolitan manila Development Agency (MMDA) called Interaksyon. Tutubi uses it for months now and quite accurate.
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EDSA trivia, EDSA history, EDSA facts, EDSA total length, how long is EDSA, EDSA traffic
Labels: Metro Manila, Roads and Highways
posted by backpacking philippines @ 9:41 PM,
7 Comments:
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At Sep 23, 2011 2:55:00 PM,
Seair said...
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Interesting post, especially for someone like me that drives on edsa almost everyday.
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At Oct 2, 2011 10:15:00 PM,
bw said...
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interesting.. I remember we called it hiway 54 way back then but didn't know why.
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At Nov 14, 2011 2:51:00 PM,
said...
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i wonder how many days was edsa completed? if i heard him right, one of my history professors in college told us that it was called as such because it was built in 54 days. the challenge now is finding the source/s that back this up.
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At Nov 14, 2011 4:06:00 PM,
backpacking philippines said...
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anonymous, and you actually believed your professor that EDSA was finished in 54 days? you can't pave/cement a road that long in 54 days...it will take years to do that. 1954 is the true reason why it was named highway 54 :P
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At Nov 21, 2011 2:38:00 AM,
Warren Garcera said...
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Arch. Felino Palafox may have been taking you for a ride. EDSA cannot be 54 meters wide. It is a 10-lane divided highway (5 lanes each side). A standard highway lane is about 3.7 meters wide. You do the math and add the space in between the lanes and you won't get near 54 meters.
The road was named Highway 54 to pay tribute to the men that built it - the 54th Army Engineering Brigade led by engineers Florencio Moreno and Osmundo Monsod. It was completed in 1940 (not in 1954) under the presidency of Pres. Manuel L. Quezon. -
At Nov 21, 2011 5:27:00 PM,
backpacking philippines said...
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warren, another interesting claim. perhaps a person trained in hsitory can make a research on this one, backed up by documents or prima facie evidence to settle it :P
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At Jan 10, 2012 12:41:00 PM,
said...
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warren is correct, it was built by the 54th army engineering brigade
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