Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - After almost two years of construction, both tunnels on Puerto Vallarta's Luis Donaldo Colosio Highway (El Libramiento) were opened to traffic on Saturday, March 23, 2013 - just in time for the influx of visitors expected to arrive for the Easter holidays.

The two tunnels are a vital part of Puerto Vallarta's infrastructure as they connect the north and south sides of the city while allowing drivers to circumvent traffic in the downtown area.

In addition to benefitting Puerto Vallarta, the opening of both tunnels will also make the municipalities of Cabo Corrientes and Tomatlán more accessible and improve traffic flow throughout the region, as it is estimated that the bypass can now accommodate up to 60,000 vehicles daily.

In January of 2012, the new tunnel was opened to traffic from both directions so that improvements could be made to the lighting and ventilation systems in the old tunnel. The goal was to make the existing roadway on par with the new one.

Just before opening the bypass last Saturday, Municipal Transit Deputy Director, Jesus Jose Rodriguez Campoy, and the head of Municipal Civil Protection, Sergio Ramírez López, took a tour of the twin tunnels to verify the feasibility of their opening.

After the tour, Jesus Jose Rodriguez Campoy said that he was satisfied that the tunnels were ready to be opened to the public, but he would like to see them have even better lighting for added safety. He also stressed the importance of regular maintenance and suggested adding beacons to the tunnel, which have already been contemplated as a means to better guide motorists.

During his inspection, the official also noted a small tunnel that connects the two routes. This was built to provide easy access in case of any eventuality or emergency service needs. On that note, Jesus Jose Rodriguez Campoy recommended that motorists use the road with caution, i.e. driving no more than 50 kilometers per hour, saying, "the tunnels should be a convenience for Vallarta - not a danger to it's people."