Natalio Bacalso Avenue

"Cebu South Road" redirects here. For the reclamation area, see South Road Properties.

Natalio Bacalso Avenue, also known as Cebu South Road and informally as Cebu South Expressway, is a highway from Cebu to Samboan in Cebu, Philippines.^[2][3][4] It is currently Cebu's longest road, stretching around 140 kilometers (87 mi).^[5] It is named after Natalio Bacalso, a Cebuano writer.

Natalio Bacalso Avenue
Cebu South Road Cebu South Expressway
Mambaling Flyover in Cebu City
Route information
Maintained by the Department of Public Works and Highways
Length	141.356 km[1] (87.835 mi)
Component highways	N8 from Cebu City to Santander N830 in Samboan
Major junctions
From	N8 (Cebu North Road) in Cebu City
Major intersections	N825 (Rafael Rabaya Street) in Talisay N840 (Cebu South Coastal Road) in Talisay N81 (Naga–Uling Road) in Naga N83 (Carcar–Barili Road) in Carcar
To	N830 (Santander–Barili–Toledo Road) in Samboan
Location
Country	Philippines
Provinces	Cebu
Major cities	Cebu City, Talisay, Naga, Carcar
Towns	Minglanilla, San Fernando, Sibonga, Argao, Dalaguete, Alcoy, Boljoon, Oslob, Santander, Samboan
Highway system
Roads in the Philippines Highways Expressways List

The road is a component of National Route 8 (N8) and of National Route 830 (N830) of the Philippine highway network. It also forms part of the Western Nautical Highway of the Philippine Nautical Highway System.

Route description

True to its old name Cebu South Road, it connects the capital Cebu City to the southern cities and municipalities of Cebu province. Natalio Bacalso Avenue refers to the entire Cebu South Road, according to the Department of Public Works and Highways.^[1] However, according to Batas Pambansa Blg. 648, it is the legal name of its section from Leon Kilat Street, Cebu City to Santander only.^[6]

Cebu City

See also: Osmeña Boulevard

The avenue starts in Cebu City at the Fuente Osmeña Circle, its intersection with Cebu North Road, in Cebu City as Osmeña Boulevard. It then turns west at its intersection with P. Del Rosario Street, transitioning to assume such name. Shortly, it intersects J. Alcantara and Leon Kilat Streets and becomes legally known as Natalio Bacalso Avenue. Mambaling Flyover carries traffic over the busy intersection in Barangay Mambaling.^[1]

Talisay to Santander

Natalio Bacalso Avenue near Tingko Beach in Alcoy

The avenue then proceeds to the city of Talisay and follows the eastern coast of Cebu. At its intersection with Rafael Rabaya Street (N825; Cebu–Toledo Wharf Road), crossing traffic is carried by the Tabunok Flyover. It then traverses Minglanilla, Naga, San Fernando, Carcar, Sibonga, Argao, Dalaguete, Alcoy, Boljoon, Oslob, and Santander. In Santander, it continues to follow Cebu's southern and southwestern coast.

Samboan

The avenue's route transitions from N8 to N830 at the Santander–Samboan municipal boundary. It proceeds into Samboan for 625 meters (2,051 ft) in Barangay San Sebastian until it is continued by Santander–Barili–Toledo Road.^[1]

History

Cebu South Road historically forms part of Cebu Island's Highway 1 or Route 1 during the 20th century.^[7][8] On July 30, 1973, the section of the road as Cebu South Expressway from Leon Kilat Street to Barangay Mambaling in Cebu City was renamed to Rizal Avenue, after one of the Philippine national heroes, Dr. José Rizal, by virtue of Cebu City Ordinance No. 834.^[5] On March 7, 1984, the ordinance was superseded when the road's section from Leon Kilat Street, Cebu City to Santander was officially renamed to Natalio B. Bacalso South National Highway, after Cebuano writer Natalio Bacalso.^[6]