Second Junction in Las Varas-Puerto Vallarta Highway Opens

The Ministry of Infrastructure, Communications and Transport (SICT) announced that the second junction of the Las Varas-Puerto Vallarta highway began operations, as the Ministry aims to complete the rest of the highway by July 2024 to boost tourism in the region. 

The project aims to connect the tourist area at the Nayarit Riviera with Puerto Vallarta, while granting direct access to the airport, explained SICT. Proyectos México, a platform operated by Banobras, indicated on its most recent update of the project on Aug. 15, 2022, that Las Varas-Puerto Vallarta highway would require an investment of MX$7.2 billion (US$350 million). However, SICT’s latest press release reported that the highway will cost MX$10.6 billion (US$585 million). 

SICT explained that the highway will have 45 bridges, seven junctions, three tunnels and three viaducts upon completion and highlighted that it will reduce travel time by 60-80 minutes for the over 6,000 vehicles that transit the stretch every day. 

The La Florida-Junction and the La Cruz de Huanacaxtle-Junction section will comprise a 30.8km stretch of the total highway that is projected to save travelers 40 minutes. The cost of the section totaled MX$4.9 billion (US$270 million) and will benefit nine communities in the area, says SICT. 

“The highway will offer multiple advantages for travelers. It will be an access to different points of the growing tourist corridor of the Riviera Nayarit; through the Guadalajara-Tepic highway, it will connect these cities with the tourist area of the Riviera de Nayarit and Puerto Vallarta, thus it will be the fastest way between Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta, and it will also provide direct access to the airport,” says SICT. 

The highway aims to enhance the tourist potential of the Nayarit Riviera, as SICT highlights that safer transportation will provide better conditions for travelers. SICT explained that the highway will also connect two international airports: Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, and Tepic, Nayarit. The Ministry added that “it will strengthen connectivity with Bajio, Guadalajara, Tepic, Las Islas Marias and Puerto Vallarta.”

The project will reduce travel time from Guadalajara to Puerto Vallarta from 4.5 hours to 2.5 hours and from Tepic to Puerto Vallarta from 3.3 hours to 1.6 hours.