Mexican Federal Highway
Federal Highways (Spanish: Carretera Federal), are a series of highways that connect with roads from foreign countries; link two or more states of the Federation; and are wholly or mostly built by the Federation with federal funds or through federal grants by individuals, states, or municipalities.[1] Locally known as federal highway corridors (Spanish: los corredores carreteros federales), built and maintained by the federal government of Mexico via the Secretariat of Communications and Transportation (Spanish: Secretaría de Comunicaciones y Transportes, SCT). Federal Highways in Mexico can be classified into high-speed roads with restricted access (usually toll highways that may be segmented, and are marked by the letter "D") and low-speed roads with non-restricted access; not all corridors are completely improved.
Federal Highways | |
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One-, two-, three-digit, and letter designation shields and tollway shield | |
System information | |
Maintained by Secretariat of Communications and Transportation | |
Highway names | |
Federal Highway: | Federal Highway X (Fed. X) |
System links | |
Mexican Federal Highways List • Autopistas |
High speed with restricted-access roads
Restricted-access roads, known as Autopistas or Supercarreteras, are limited-access expressways with controlled points of access interchanges. Access to these roads is generally prohibited for pedestrians and animal-drawn vehicles, as fences are located at the side of the road for most of the length. Autopistas are highways with four or more defined lanes. Supercarreteras are always two-lane highways and are most commonly found in mountainous areas. The maximum speed limit is normally 110 km/h (68 mph) for cars and 95 km/h (59 mph) for buses and trucks. In some cases, the maximum speed can be 120 km/h (75 mph).[2]
Low speed with non-restricted-access roads
Low-speed/non-restricted-access roads, known as Autopistas or Carreteras, comprise the majority of the road corridors. Autopistas are divided highways with four or more lanes. Most of these autopistas are single-carriageway roads converted into dual carriageway by building an adjacent road body next to the existing one. Carretera are free, and in most cases, two-lane highways that connect almost all of Mexico. These roads have interchanges at major roads, but most intersections are at grade. The maximum speed limit is 100 km/h (62 mph) for cars and 95 km/h (59 mph) for buses and trucks.[2]
Numbering system
North–south highways are assigned odd numbers, while east-west highways are identified by even numbers. The start of the numbering system is located in the northwest of the country.
Exceptions to the numbering system
There are two exceptions to the numbering system:
- Federal Highway 14 (Fed. 14) and Federal Highway 14D (Fed. 14D) from Uruapan, Michoacán, to Morelia, Michoacán, located in the midwest of the country.
- Several roads with letter designations: the Autopista Arco Norte (M40D), Fed. I-20D (Libramiento de Irapuato), Fed. S30 (Libramiento Norponiente de Saltillo, signed as 40D) and, Fed. GUA 10D (Macrolibramiento Sur De Guadalajara).
References
- Gutiérrez, Norma (March 2014). "National Funding of Road Infrastructure: Mexico". www.loc.gov. Retrieved 21 February 2020.
- "Driving in Mexico | Tips | Mexpro". www.mexpro.com. Retrieved 2018-01-12.