Natalio Bacalso Avenue
{{Short description|Highway in Cebu, Philippines}}
{{Redirect|Cebu South Road|the reclamation area|South Road Properties}}
{{Infobox road
| country = PHL
| image = Natalio Bacalso Avenue, Mambaling Flyover top (Cebu City; 01-12-2024).jpg
| image_notes = Mambaling Flyover in Cebu City
| allocation = {{plainlist|
}}
|maint=the Department of Public Works and Highways
|length_km=141.356
| terminus_a = {{Jct|country=PHL|N|8|name1=Cebu North Road}} in Cebu City
| junctions = {{plainlist|
- {{Jct|country=PHL|N|825|name1=Rafael Rabaya Street}} in Talisay
- {{Jct|country=PHL|N|840|name1=Cebu South Coastal Road}} in Talisay
- {{Jct|country=PHL|N|81|name1=Naga–Uling Road}} in Naga
- {{Jct|country=PHL|N|83|name1=Carcar–Barili Road}} in Carcar
}}
| terminus_b = {{Jct|country=PHL|N|830|name1=Santander–Barili–Toledo Road}} in Samboan
| name = Natalio Bacalso Avenue
| alternate_name = Cebu South Road
Cebu South Expressway
| provinces = Cebu
| cities = Cebu City, Talisay, Naga, Carcar
| towns = Minglanilla, San Fernando, Sibonga, Argao, Dalaguete, Alcoy, Boljoon, Oslob, Santander, Samboan
}}
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.{{Cite web|title=Cebu City|url=https://www.dpwh.gov.ph/dpwh/2020%20DPWH%20ATLAS/Road%20Data%202016/cebu_city.htm|access-date=August 28, 2021|website=Department of Public Works and Highways}}{{Cite web|title=Cebu 2nd|url=https://www.dpwh.gov.ph/dpwh/2020%20DPWH%20ATLAS/Road%20Data%202016/cebu_2nd.htm|access-date=August 28, 2021|website=Department of Public Works and Highways}}{{Cite web|title=Cebu 4th|url=https://www.dpwh.gov.ph/dpwh/2020%20DPWH%20ATLAS/Road%20Data%202016/cebu_4th.htm|access-date=August 28, 2021|website=Department of Public Works and Highways}} It is currently Cebu's longest road, stretching around {{convert|140|km|sp=us}}.{{cite news|url=https://www.philstar.com/the-freeman/opinion/2014/11/08/1389422/natalio-b-bacalso-south-national-highway|title=Natalio B. Bacalso South National Highway|first=Clarence Paul|last=Oaminal|date=November 8, 2014|accessdate=June 30, 2023|work=The Freeman|publisher=The Philippine Star}} It is named after Natalio Bacalso, a Cebuano writer.
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. However, according to Batas Pambansa Blg. 648, it is the legal name of its section from Leon Kilat Street, Cebu City to Santander only.
= 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.
= Talisay to Santander =
File:Cebu South Road, Tingko Beach (Alcoy, Cebu; 01-20-2023).jpg]]
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 {{convert|625|m|sp=us}} in Barangay San Sebastian until it is continued by Santander–Barili–Toledo Road.{{Cite web|url=https://dpwh.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=4bc4f2dc3a5644088c57de02108a8fd3|title=Road and Bridge Inventory|website=Department of Public Works and Highways|access-date=June 30, 2023}}
History
Cebu South Road historically forms part of Cebu Island's Highway 1 or Route 1 during the 20th century.{{cite map |author = |title =NC 51-7 Cebu City |trans-title = |map = |map-url = |date = |year = 1954 |url = https://maps.lib.utexas.edu/maps/ams/philippines/txu-oclc-6539351-nc51-7-450.jpg |scale = 1:250,000|series = |publisher = Army Map Service, Corps of Engineers |cartography = |page = |pages = |section = |sections = |inset = |edition = |location = Washington D.C. |language = |format = |isbn = |id = |access-date = June 29, 2023 |archive-url = |archive-date =}}{{cite map |author = |title =NC 51-10 Dumaguete City |trans-title = |map = |map-url = |date = |year = 1954 |url = https://maps.lib.utexas.edu/maps/ams/philippines/txu-oclc-6539351-nc51-10-450.jpg |scale = 1:250,000|series = |publisher = Army Map Service, Corps of Engineers |cartography = |page = |pages = |section = |sections = |inset = |edition = |location = Washington D.C. |language = |format = |isbn = |id = |access-date = June 29, 2023 |archive-url = |archive-date =}} 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. 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.{{cite PH act|chamber=BP|number=648|title=An Act Naming What Is Commonly Known as the Cebu South Expressway And/or the Cebu South Road in Cebu City and Cebu Province as the Natalio B. Bacalso South National Highway|url=https://thecorpusjuris.com/legislative/batas-pambansa/bp-blg-648.php|date=March 7, 1984|accessdate=June 30, 2023|website=The Corpus Juris}}