The avenue was developed as part of a road plan to connect the government center of
Manila in
Rizal Park to the proposed new capital on the Diliman Estate. It was also referred to as
Quezon Boulevard Extension,
Calle España, and
Malawen Boulevard. During
World War II, its section in Diliman Estate served as a runway of the Quezon Airfield, along with the Manila Circumferential Road (now
EDSA). The road, much like
Commonwealth Avenue, was then named
Don Mariano Marcos Avenue to honor
Mariano Marcos, the father of President
Ferdinand Marcos. The road was renamed
Quezon Avenue after former president
Manuel Quezon following the 1986
People Power Revolution with the ascension of
Corazon Aquino as president. It originally started at
EDSA, but the portion between the
Elliptical Road and EDSA, which used to be named
Commonwealth Avenue extension, became a part of the road. With the passing of the 1987
Constitution, Quezon City had
four legislative districts until two new districts were added in 2013. The west of Quezon Avenue constitutes the
first district, while the east constitutes the
fourth district.
U-turn slots In 2003, after the perceived effectiveness of
EDSA, Commonwealth Avenue and
Marcos Highway, the
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) implemented the "clearway scheme"; this prohibited crossings and left turns on the avenue. In place of left turns, the MMDA has constructed
U-turn slots away from the intersections to allow vehicles to reach their destination. The MMDA would later backpedal on the scheme in 2014 by reverting some intersections along Quezon Avenue to traffic light-signalized ones.
Quezon Avenue–Araneta Avenue underpass In June 2011, a four-lane
underpass was started along the
Gregorio Araneta Avenue Intersection. The construction was slated to take up to 15 months. In September 2012, President
Benigno Aquino III opened the underpass to the public. The project cost or below the budget allocated.
Motorcycle lanes In 2012, the MMDA instituted
motorcycle lanes on the avenue. The lanes are painted blue and are meant exclusively for motorcycle riders. This comes after the effectiveness of the "blue lanes" on
EDSA, Commonwealth Avenue, and
Macapagal Boulevard, although the blue lane on EDSA is not exclusive to motorcycles.
Elevated expressway Initially suggested in 1993 as part of a study conducted by the
Japan International Cooperation Agency, the intended elevated
R-7 Expressway will traverse above the existing roads, linking the
Metro Manila Skyway to Commonwealth Avenue.
Planned busway system (Bus Rapid Transit) In 2017, the
World Bank granted a loan for building a
bus rapid transit line along Quezon Avenue, but this project was put on hold in 2022. In 2025,
Secretary of Transportation Vince Dizon announced that Quezon Avenue and España Boulevard will be equipped with their own busway system. ==Intersections==