Circumferential Road 3

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.{{Cite web|url=http://www.wallacebusinessforum.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/JULINFRA13.pdf|title=PH, JICA prepares new Metro Manila road network development plan|date=July 2013|website=Wallace Business Forum – Philippine Analyst|access-date=July 26, 2019|archive-date=July 26, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190726111613/http://www.wallacebusinessforum.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/JULINFRA13.pdf|url-status=dead}}

The route was originally planned to be a complete beltway around the city of Manila, from Navotas in the north to Pasay at the south.{{cite web|url=https://openjicareport.jica.go.jp/pdf/10467439.pdf|title=Urban Transport Study in Manila Metropolitan Area|date=September 1973|publisher=Overseas Technical Cooperation Agency|accessdate=April 9, 2025|page=142}} In 1978, the feasibility study conducted by the Japan International Cooperation Agency of the road was conducted, consisting of two projects: the main route between Ayala Avenue, Makati, and Rizal Avenue, Caloocan, and a spur leading to Balintawak, with a total length of {{convert|15|km|sp=us}}.{{Cite web |title=Feasibility Study on C-3 and R-4 and Related Roads Project |url=https://openjicareport.jica.go.jp/pdf/10457133.pdf}}{{Cite web |title=Feasibility Study on C-3 and R-4 and Related Roads Project|date=March 1978|publisher=Japan International Cooperation Agency & Department of Public Works and Highways |url=https://openjicareport.jica.go.jp/pdf/10457760.pdf}} However, possibly due to right of way issues, the part between San Juan and Makati was not completed. The Metro Manila Skybridge was supposed to be the missing link of the route between G. Araneta Avenue in Quezon City and South Avenue in Makati, with several interchanges.{{Cite web |title=The Official Website of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority |url=http://www.mmda.gov.ph/MMCResolutions/MMDAReso12-06.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140710012759/http://mmda.gov.ph/MMCResolutions/MMDAReso12-06.html |archive-date=July 10, 2014 |access-date=September 27, 2014}}{{Cite news |last=Melican |first=Nathaniel R. |date=July 1, 2012 |title=Metro mayors okay 'Skybridge' project |language=en |newspaper=Philippine Daily Inquirer |url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/221711/metro-mayors-okay-%e2%80%98skybridge%e2%80%99-project |access-date=March 12, 2021 |archive-date=December 8, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211208160216/https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/221711/metro-mayors-okay-%E2%80%98skybridge%E2%80%99-project |url-status=live }} However, it was cancelled due to the Skyway Stage 3 project occupying the portion of the San Juan River.{{Cite news |title=SMC completes 'new' bridge over San Juan River |language=en |work=Manila Standard |url=https://manilastandard.net/business/corporate/319487/smc-completes-new-bridge-over-san-juan-river.html |first=Darwin G. |last=Amojelar |date=March 12, 2020 |access-date=March 12, 2021 |archive-date=November 30, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130143643/https://manilastandard.net/business/corporate/319487/smc-completes-new-bridge-over-san-juan-river.html |url-status=live }} South Avenue, Ayala Avenue Extension, and Gil Puyat Avenue were later removed from the alignment of C-3.

In the JICA-conducted study, the elevated Expressway Route C-3, was also planned as early as 1993 to traverse above the C-3 alignment from Navotas to Mandaluyong.{{Cite web |date=October 29, 1993 |title=Metro Manila Urban Expressway System Study |url=https://openjicareport.jica.go.jp/pdf/11117157_01.pdf |archive-url= |archive-format= |access-date=April 6, 2024 |author=Katahira & Engineers International |website=Japan International Cooperation Agency}} Also, another proposal in the late 1990s, called the R-10/C-3 Expressway, totaling the length of {{convert|7.5|km|sp=us}} from the Metro Manila Skyway to the Manila North Harbor, with a solicited proposal submitted by the joint venture of the Philippine National Construction Corporation and Kværner of Norway. The completion of this project will allow cargo traffic to pass without being hampered by urban congestion.{{Cite web |title=METRO MANILA URBAN TRANSPORTATION INTEGRATION STUDY: FINAL REPORT |url=https://openjicareport.jica.go.jp/pdf/11580453_08.pdf}}{{Cite web |last=The World Bank |first= |date=May 1999 |title=Asian Toll Road Development Program Review of Recent Toll Road Experience in Selected Countries and Preliminary Tool Kit for Toll Road Development |url=https://ppp.worldbank.org/public-private-partnership/sites/ppp.worldbank.org/files/documents/asian_toll_road_development_program.pdf |access-date=May 28, 2024 |website=}} In 2003, JICA also conducted a study again on the elevated expressway under a planned public-private partnership, with a length of {{convert|16.59|km|sp=us}} (C-3 Expressway has a length of {{convert|8.99|km|sp=us}}),{{cite report |url=https://openjicareport.jica.go.jp/pdf/11718186_01.pdf |title=The Development of The Public-private Partnership Technique for The Metro Manila Urban Expressway Network |date=March 2003 |publisher=Almec Corporation |volume=1 |website=Japan International Cooperation Agency |accessdate=June 5, 2024}} and in 2007, there are plans to extend the Metro Manila Skyway towards the port area as a linkage,{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PExaAAAAIBAJ&dq=china+skyway+manila+times&pg=PA10&article_id=3300,16063097 |title=Chinese funds for Skyway sought |publisher=The Manila Times |language=en}} but was only realized by the C-3–R-10 spur of NLEX Harbor Link and Skyway Stage 3 constructed and opened more than two decades later.

File:NLEX Harbor Link - C3 Road Caloocan Interchange 03.jpg

C-3 Road is the portion of C-3 from R-10 in Navotas to Baltazar Street, located past the Philippine National Railways railroad crossing and the Caloocan Interchange of the NLEX Harbor Link and Connector projects in Caloocan.

File:2393C-27 road Caloocan Malabon.jpg

Past Baltazar Street, C-3 becomes 5th Avenue, a six-lane, two-way traffic roadway from Caloocan to A. Bonifacio Avenue in Quezon City. Before its expansion, this roadway was a two-lane, one-way traffic roadway eastwards. The expansion aimed to accommodate and connect C-3 Road (east) and C-3 Road (west) to eastbound and westbound traffic. Being the fifth avenue running east–west from the city's border with Manila in the south, it passes through the areas of Grace Park West, Grace Park East, and Barrio San Jose, as well as the northern boundary of La Loma Cemetery in Caloocan before entering Quezon City.

After crossing A. Bonifacio Avenue, C-3 becomes Sgt. Rivera Avenue, a main road in Quezon City with six lanes. Skyway's alignment over C-3 begins at this road. It becomes G. Araneta after turning southwards after its intersection with Santo Domingo Avenue. The names G. Araneta and Sgt. Rivera are often used interchangeably by people in this segment of the C-3.

{{main|Gregorio Araneta Avenue}}

File:G. Araneta Avenue under Skyway Stage 3 (E. Rodriguez Sr. Avenue, Quezon City; 03-20-2021).jpg

C-3 becomes G. Araneta Avenue after turning southwards after its intersection with Santo Domingo Avenue up to its terminus at N. Domingo Street in San Juan. This area of C-3 is well known for its big funeral parlors, such as Arlington and La Funeraria Paz, and SM City Sta. Mesa. It is also considered a flood-prone area as the lowest area in the C-3 network (the other being the area where it crosses with Aurora Boulevard). The Talayan Creek also runs along the road median from Toctocan Street to Quezon Avenue and is notorious for overflowing during the rainy season.

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{{Road infrastructure in Manila}}

Category:Routes in Metro Manila