Avenida 8 de Octubre is one of the main

thoroughfares A thoroughfare is a primary passage or way as a transit route through regularly trafficked areas, whether by road on dry land or, by extension, via watercraft or aircraft. On land, a thoroughfare may refer to anything from a multi-lane highway ...

Montevideo Montevideo () is the Capital city, capital and List of cities in Uruguay, largest city of Uruguay. According to the 2011 census, the city proper has a population of 1,319,108 (about one-third of the country's total population) in an area of . M ...

Uruguay Uruguay (; ), officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay ( es, República Oriental del Uruguay), is a country in South America. It shares borders with Argentina to its west and southwest and Brazil to its north and northeast; while bordering ...

, extending 3.5 miles (5.6 km) from

Tres Cruces Tres Cruces is a ''barrio'' (neighbourhood or district) of Montevideo, Uruguay. Its name means "three crossings", referring to the three major transportation routes which intersect in the area: Avenida 18 de Julio, Bulevar Artigas and Avenida 8 ...

at the intersection with

18 de Julio Avenue Avenida 18 de Julio, or 18 de Julio Avenue, is the most important avenue in Montevideo, Uruguay. It is named after the date on which the country's first Constitution was sworn in, on July 18, 1830. It starts from Plaza Independencia at the lim ...

Maroñas Maroñas–Parque Guaraní is a composite ''barrio'' (neighbourhood or district) of Montevideo. Location This barrio shares borders with Unión to the southwest, Villa Española to the west, Flor de Maroñas to the north, Las Canteras to the east ...

, where it turns into ''Camino Maldonado''. After extending for 250 m, it passes under

Artigas Boulevard Artigas Boulevard is an avenue in Montevideo named after Uruguayan hero José Artigas. The avenue was commissioned by Garetado Fredito, the Minister of Transport and Public Works, in 1891. It starts from the Rambla of Montevideo (coastal avenue) ...

through a 300 m tunnel, and rises to the surface between Avelino Miranda and Presidente Batlle streets. Extended through

La Blanqueada La Blanqueada is a '' barrio'' (neighbourhood or district) of Montevideo, Uruguay. Location It borders Tres Cruces to the west, Larrañaga to the northwest, Unión to the northeast and Parque Batlle to the south. It is home to the Military Hosp ...

, Unión, and

, a large number of shops, public institutions, educational centers and hospitals are concentrated on this avenue.

History

By decree of December 20, 1866, during the administration of Venancio Flores, it was named ''Camino 8 de Octubre''. The name comes from the date on which the peace that ended the Uruguayan Civil War was signed, on October 8, 1851. In the 1860s, the paving of the road was carried out from the current Plaza del Gaucho to what was then Montevideo Street (current Pernas St.). The paving works finished on July 14, 1867. By decree of November 4, 1867, the section of the old ''Camino a Maldonado'' between El Gaucho and

that was known as ''Camino a La Unión'', adopted the name of July 18, extending the main throughfare of Montevideo until it joined the October 8 road. In 1919, due to a modification in the layout of Avenida 18 de Julio, a sector of it was incorporated into 8 de Octubre Avenue, giving it its current extension. In 1925 the original cobblestone was replaced by concrete. On July 18, 1961, the tunnel that passes under the

Democracy Square Democracy Square () is a road junction and public space in '' barrio'' Tres Cruces of Montevideo, Uruguay. The square connects Italy Avenue, Artigas Boulevard and 8 de Octubre Avenue, which are three of the most important thoroughfares in the ...

and

was inaugurated.

Landmarks

The main landmarks along this avenue are: * Catholic University of Uruguay * Médica Uruguaya Center *Sanguinetti Primary School * Geographic Military Institute

Gallery

File:Military Hospital Montevideo.jpg, Military Hospital File:Crandon Institute.jpg, Crandon Institute File:8 de Octubre esquina Av. Centenario - panoramio.jpg, 8 de Octubre Ave and Centenario Ave File:Av. 18 de Julio esquina 8 de Octubre - panoramio.jpg,

18 de Julio Dieciocho de Julio or 18 de Julio is a small town in the Rocha Department of southeastern Uruguay. Geography The town is located about west of Chuy Chuy () is a city in the extreme east of Uruguay, in the Rocha Department, northeast of Montevi ...

and 8 de Octubre Ave File:Universidad Católica del Uruguay Dámaso Antonio Larrañaga.jpg, Catholic University of Uruguay File:Plaza de La bandera - panoramio.jpg, Plaza de la Bandera and underground tunnel

References

Tres Cruces La Blanqueada Unión, Montevideo Streets in Montevideo {{Montevideo-stub