Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico – Budget cuts and environmental issues have caused delays in the construction of the long-awaited Guadalajara-Puerto Vallarta highway – but not the coronavirus pandemic. While most of the country came to an abrupt stop more than 80 days ago, work on the new road that will connect the coast with the state capital continued at full speed.
Initiated in December 2011, the 156-kilometer project is 93% complete, and work is now underway on the final section – a 76-kilometer-long stretch of road between Las Varas and Compostela that will incorporate tunnels and bridges to circumvent the region’s dense and mountainous jungle.
This third and last stage is being built by Grupo Carso. It will include three large tunnels, the longest of which is the “Guamuchil” tunnel, near the town of the same name on the Riviera Nayarit.
At 1,100 meters long, (greater in length than that of the largest skyscraper in the world), this tunnel will pass under jungle-filled hills in the Sierra de Vallejo, and parallel the curvy stretch of Federal Highway 200 that currently takes travelers so much time to traverse.
Work on this underpass is moving right along. When completed, it will have state-of-the-art ventilation and drainage systems, resulting in a spectacular feat of engineering with high safety standards.
The two other tunnels on this section of highway are the “Bueyes,” at 540 meters long, and located at the entrance to the Sayulita access road; the other one that has not yet been named, but almost immediately follows the Guamuchil tunnel.
In addition, a gigantic bridge, called “Las Truchas,” is also built. At 300 meters long and 75 meters high, the Las Truchas bridge will connect two ends of a straight stretch of road that crosses between two hills and spans a large ravine.
Project completion is projected for October of this year. Upon completion, this road will connect Puerto Vallarta with Guadalajara in just 2.5 hours.
Source: Vallarta Opina Online