Puerto Rico Highway 52

Puerto Rico Highway 52 (PR-52), a major toll road in Puerto Rico, is also known as Autopista Luis A. Ferré. It was formerly called Expreso Las Américas. It runs from PR-1 in southwest Río Piedras and heads south until it intersects with highway PR-2 in Ponce.[3] At its north end, the short PR-18 continues north from PR-52 towards San Juan. This short segment is known as Expreso Las Americas, the only segment of the route still unofficially bearing this name, since PR-18 is officially named Roberto Sánchez Vilella Expressway. The combined route of PR-18 and PR-52 runs concurrent with the unsigned Interstate Highway PRI-1. Toll stations are located in San Juan, Caguas, Salinas, Juana Díaz, and Ponce.

Highway 52
Autopista Luis A. Ferré
PR-52 highlighted in red
Route information
Maintained by Puerto Rico DTPW
Length108.5 km[1] (67.4 mi)
Existed1968[2]–present
Major junctions
South end PR-2 / PR-9 in Canas
 
North end PR-1 / PR-18 in Monacillo Urbano
Location
MunicipalitiesPonce, Juana Díaz, Santa Isabel, Salinas, Cayey, Caguas, Trujillo Alto, San Juan
Highway system
← PR-47→ PR-53

Route description
Detailed map of PR-52 in the Municipality of Ponce

PR-52 is Puerto Rico's longest and second most traveled tollway. The road is mostly a 2-lane road in each direction. The section between the Caguas toll and the town of Salinas crosses the Cordillera Central, resulting in a more curvy and hilly section than the other sections of the highway. It also experiences more fog and lower visibility than the rest of the road due to the altitude. The speed limit is also reduced in the area.

One of Puerto Rico's only 2 rest areas is located on this expressway. map The other rest area is located on PR-53 (northbound only) near Humacao/Naguabo municipality border although it is signed as a scenic zone and thus just like the rest area on PR-52, it has no facilities. map The rest area, however, has no relief, vending, or service facilities such as a restaurant or a gas station. The rest area does include an important monument, the Monumento al Jíbaro Puertorriqueño. The whimsical Tetas de Cayey are visible from this rest area as well.

PR-52 passes extremely close to the central town of Cidra between approximately kilometer markers 34 and 30. In fact, Exit 32 to Guavate is so close to the Cidra border that once the exit is taken and instead of going south to Guavate and Patillas through PR-184, going north it quickly ends at PR-1 and a welcome sign to Cidra is shown. The tollway itself never enters Cidra itself, but PR-1 (the parallel road from Ponce to San Juan) does.

The speed limit from San Juan to Caguas is 55 miles per hour (89 km/h). From Caguas to Salinas, it is 45 miles per hour (72 km/h), and from Salinas to Ponce, it is 65 miles per hour (105 km/h).

History

The building of this 108-kilometer (67 mi)[4] expressway took place during the administration of governor Luis A. Ferré, who was trained as a civil engineer himself. [5] It was built at a cost of $125 million.[6] PR-52 was Puerto Rico's first toll road ever. Construction for this road started in October 1968 during the administration of governor Roberto Sánchez Vilella, also a trained engineer, and continued during Luis Ferre's tenure. It was then named Autopista Las Americas, and it was planned to run from San Juan to Ponce.[7] On December 9, 1993, Law 118 was enacted which renamed the roadway Autopista Luis A. Ferre.[7] The expressway is currently the longest in the island, but this will change when the 83-km-long PR-22 extends to Aguadilla. In March 1969 the roadway became a tolled expressway. The Puerto Rico Highway and Transportation Authority reports that tolls were added to the highway to speed up its construction.[7] The road was completed in 1975 during the first administration of governor Rafael Hernández Colón.[8]

On July 22, 2019, more than half a million Puerto Ricans shut down PR-52 demanding the resignation of the then governor, Ricardo Rosselló, following a leaked Telegram chat between the governor and several members of his cabinet.

Tolls
Location Toll Direction AutoExpreso
acceptance		 AutoExpreso
replenishment (R)
lane
Ponce $0.75 Two-way
Juana Díaz Oeste $0.50 Northbound
Juana Díaz Este $0.50 Southbound
Salinas Rampa Sur $0.35 Northbound
Salinas $1.75 Northbound
Caguas Sur $1.00 Southbound
Caguas Norte $1.50 Northbound
Montehiedra $0.35 Northbound (ramp)

Exit list
MunicipalityLocationkm[1]miExitDestinationsNotes
PonceCanas108.567.4108 PR-2 west (PRI-2 / Expreso Roberto Sánchez Vilella) – Mayagüez, GuayanillaSouthern terminus of Interstate PR1 and PR-52. Splits into PR-2. PR-2 exit 224.
108.067.1 PR-2 east (Ponce Bypass) / PR-9 north (Avenida Baramaya) – Ponce Oeste
Playa105.565.6Ponce Toll Plaza
104.965.2104 PR-12 / Avenida Rafael Cordero Santiago – Ponce Centro, Plaza del Caribe, Ponce Playa, Zona PortuariaSigned as exits 104A (north) and 104B (south)
Vayas100.9–
100.8		62.7–
62.6		99 PR-1 – Ponce Centro, MerceditaSigned as exits 99A (west) and 99B (east)
Sabanetas98.060.998 PR-10 – Ponce Norte, Adjuntas, Mercedita AirportSigned as exits 98A (north) and 98B (south), access to San Lucas Hospital
Coto Laurel95.559.395 PR-506 – Coto Laurel
Juana DíazSabana Llana93.858.3Juana Díaz Oeste Toll Plaza (toll northbound only)
Amuelas91.256.791 PR-149 (Bulevar Carlos Bernier Rodríguez) – Juana Díaz, Villalba, Fort Allen
Río Cañas Abajo85.653.2Juana Díaz Este Toll Plaza (toll southbound only)
Santa IsabelDescalabrado81.450.680 PR-536 – Descalabrado, Los LlanosWestbound exit and eastbound entrance
Descalabrado–Felicia 2 line77.748.377 PR-545 – Gabia
Felicia 277.0–
76.9		47.8–
47.8		76 PR-153 – Santa Isabel, Coamo
SalinasLapa66.241.165 PR-1 – Salinas, Campamento SantiagoToll on eastbound off-ramp and westbound on-ramp
61.538.261 PR-53 east (Autopista José M. Dávila Monsanto) – GuayamaThe northbound exit into the southwestern terminus of PR-53.
60.837.860 PR-53 east (Autopista José M. Dávila Monsanto) – GuayamaDirectional T interchange; The left southbound exit into the southwestern terminus of PR-53
57.936.0Salinas Toll Plaza (toll northbound only)
57.6–
57.5		35.8–
35.7		58 PR-1 / PR-712 – Albergue OlímpicoAccess via PR-1 / PR-712
Palmas–Lapa line49.230.6—Rest AreaNorthbound exit has access to PR-714.
CayeyMonte Llano38.824.139 To PR-1 – Cayey, Aibonito, CidraAccess to Centro Médico Menonita de Cayey
Beatriz32.220.032 PR-184 to PR-1 – Cidra, Guavate, Cayey EsteThis exit is just a few feet away from the border of Cidra and Cayey
CaguasTurabo23.514.6Caguas Sur Toll Plaza (toll southbound only)
23.114.423 To PR-1 – Caguas Sur, Borinquen
Turabo–Cañaboncito line21.413.321 PR-172 (Avenida Pino) – Caguas Sur, Cidra, CertenejasThe direct exit to Menonita Caguas Regional Hospital and Plaza del Carmen Mall
Cañaboncito20.5–
20.4		12.7–
12.7		20Avenida Federico Degetau (PR-34)Unsigned
Caguas barrio-pueblo19.312.019 PR-156 – Aguas Buenas, Caguas
Bairoa18.411.418 PR-196 (Avenida José Garrido) – Bairoa, Valle TolimaThe direct exit to Las Catalinas Mall.
16.110.015B PR-1 south / PR-30 east (Expreso Cruz Ortiz Stella) – Caguas, Humacao, GuraboThe exit from the southbound direction signed as Exit 14.
15.89.815A PR-1 north – San Juan, Guaynabo, Río CañasThe exit from the southbound direction signed as Exit 15.
15.59.615 PR-1 north – San Juan, Guaynabo, Río CañasThe exits from the northbound direction signed as 15A (North) and 15B (South).
Río Cañas14.3–
14.2		8.9–
8.8		Caguas Norte Toll Plaza (toll northbound only)
14.28.814 PR-1 south / PR-30 east (Expreso Cruz Ortiz Stella) – Caguas, HumacaoSouthbound exit
Trujillo Alto
 No major junctions
San JuanCaimito4.12.54Avenida Montehiedra / Camino Los Romero – CaimitoToll on northbound on-ramp; signed as exits 4A and 4B southbound
Monacillo2.41.52 PR-199 (Avenida Doña Felisa Rincón de Gautier) – Guaynabo, Trujillo Alto, Cupey
Monacillo Urbano0.9–
0.8		0.56–
0.50		1 PR-177 (Avenida Lomas Verdes) – Guaynabo, Bayamón, CupeySouthbound exits signed as 1A (west) and 1B (east)
0.30.190B PR-1 north – Carolina, Río Piedras, Trujillo AltoNo northbound access to PR-1 south.
0.00.00A PR-18 north (PRI-1 / Expreso Las Américas) – San Juan, Bayamón, Hato ReyNorthern terminus of PR-52; PRI-1 continues northbound via PR-18. Access to Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport and hospitals.
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi

See also

References
  1. Google (28 February 2020). "PR-52" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 28 February 2020.
  2. Historia. Departamento de Transportacion y Obras Publicas de Puerto Rico. Archived on 16 February 2009. Retrieved 10 August 2020.
  3. Puerto Rico Department of Transportation and Public Works. "Datos de Transito 2000-2009" (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 April 2019.
  4. Guía de Carreteras Principales, Expresos y Autopistas. (In Spanish) Puerto Rico Autoridad de Carreteras y Transportacion (ACT).
  5. Ian James. "Former Puerto Rican Gov. Luis A Ferre dies." The Miami Herald. October 22. 2003
  6. Historia de las Carreteras de Puerto Rico. Primera Hora. March 13, 2006.
  7. "Historia". Government of Puerto Rico. Highway and Transportation Authority. Archived from the original on 16 February 2009. Retrieved 2 May 2017.
  8. Legends of Puerto Rico Archived 2010-09-28 at the Wayback Machine

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