Puerto Rico Highway 9

Puerto Rico Highway 9 (PR-9), also called the Anillo de Circunvalación de Ponce[2][3] (Ponce's Circumferential Highway), is a limited-access state[4] highway located entirely within the limits of the municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico, and connecting Puerto Rico Highway 10 in Barrio Portugués in the north to Puerto Rico Highway 52 in barrio Canas in the south, crossing Barrio Magueyes. The Oficina de Ordenación Territorial (Office of Territorial Ordering) of the Autonomous Municipality of Ponce calls this road Ronda de Circunvalación Roman Baldorioty de Castro (Roman Baldorioty de Castro Beltway).[5][6] The roadway is still under construction.

PR-9 near Barrio Portugués Rural exit in Ponce, heading west towards PR-123
PR-9 in Barrio Canas under construction in early 2019.

Highway 9
Anillo de Circunvalación de Ponce
Route information
Maintained by Puerto Rico DTPW
Length7.27 km[1] (4.52 mi)
Existed2006–present
Major junctions
South end PR-52 in Canas
 
North end PR-10 in Portugués
Location
MunicipalitiesPonce
Highway system
← PR-8→ PR-10

History

PR-9 is being built in three phases.[lower-alpha 1] The three sections, PR-10 to PR-123, PR-123 to PR-132, and PR-132 to PR-163 correspond to the three phases. Once a phase is completed, the corresponding section is put into service and is opened to traffic. For construction purposes, each section was further divided into segments.

Phase I

On 13 October 2000, governor Pedro Rossello inaugurated the last segment needed for connecting the section linking PR-10, in barrio Portugues, to PR-123,[note 1] in barrio Magueyes, and consisting of 7.27 km, at a cost of $22 million.[7]

Phase II

This phase started in September 2012, and it was originally scheduled for completion by December 2015.[8]

In December 2013, the section from PR-123 to PR-132 (known as Autoridad de Carreteras (AC)'s project number 000911) was projected for a 2014-2018 budget cost of almost $30 million.[9] Various adjustments increased the original $30M cost to some $38.5M from 2012 to 2017.[10] Additional 2017 delays were incurred after three landslide that occurred in the summer of 2017, requiring new analysis work to discover the causes plus the required additional design follow-up work to correct the discovered faults.[11]

By November 2019, it was reported the cost of this phase had increased to $56.5 million, "almost $20 million over the originally budgeted amount," much of this increased cost resulting from heavy damage by the 20 October 2017 Hurricane Maria, and a new end-of-work projected date of December 2021 was forecast.[12]

In January 2020, after the 7 January 2020 earthquake, the regional director of the Autoridad de Carreteras y Transportación stated that this section under construction had sustained damages from the quakes, and that its completion, which was already 49 months behind schedule, would now not be ready until December 2021 "at the earliest".[13]

Phase III

In October 2012, the Puerto Rico Department of Transportation and Public Works revealed that the last track of PR-9, one that would connect PR-10 to PR-52 and consisting of 2.6 kilometers,[lower-alpha 2] was soon to commence construction at a cost of $46 million.[3]

Construction of PR-9 from Avenida Las Américas (PR-163) to PR-132 was AC's # 000915 and estimated at $40,325,706. In February 2015, the section from PR-123 to PR-132 was initially projected to cost $38.5 million and was planned to be ready in 2016.[14] Project overruns, due to landslides and other unexpected factors, increased the cost of this section from $38.5 million to $41.7 million, and pushed the schedule opening date to February 2018.[15]

Also in February 2015, the last section of the road which would connect PR-132 with Avenida Las Américas, Avenida Baramaya, and PR-52, was planned to be built at a cost of $45 million. As of February 2014, this final section was scheduled for completion by early 2018.[14]

In May 2019, however, it was revealed by ACT that the project failed to meet the 2018 date due severe damaged caused by the September 2017 Hurricane Maria. The new projected opening date of one of the final sections of the road was moved to September 2020, and completion of the entire project was being projected for sometime in 2021.[16]

In November 2019, it was reported that 75% of the work required for Phase III had been completed and an estimated opening date of September 2020 was being anticipated. This phase has a length of 1.62 kilometers, and was being built at a cost of $46 million.[17]

In January 2020, after the 7 January 2020 earthquake and while discussing delays to phase II of the project (PR-123 to PR-132), the regional director of the Autoridad de Carreteras y Transportación stated that the PR-132-to-PR-500 segment under construction (Phase III) had sustained damages from the quakes. The segment connecting, which was already running two years behind schedule prior to the earthquakes and which was due for completion by September 2020, would now have a completion date based on the results of an evaluation "at greater depth" of the damages caused by the earthquake.[18]

Route description

PR-9 is still partly under construction. The construction work has thus far (November 2019) yielded the extreme northern segment and a portion of the southern segment, with the middle segments still to be built. The road currently runs mostly northwest of the city as well as small portion southwest of the city. The western segment is still being built. This last segment has a length of 4.23 kilometers.[19][20]

When completed, it will have the effect of creating a beltway around the city, given that PR-9 connects with PR-10 at its northern extreme, and PR-10 already borders the city around its northern, northeastern, and part of the city's eastern edges. This beltway will have junctions with all major city highways: from PR-52 and PR-2 west of Ponce, to PR-52 and PR-1 east of Ponce.[21]

Major intersections

The five exits existing so far are PR-52, PR-2, PR-163 in the southwestern segment, and PR-123 and PR-10 in the northwestern segment. When completed, the road will have six exits in this sequence from north to south: PR-10, PR-123, PR-132, PR-163, PR-2, and PR-52. The entire route is located in Ponce. All exits are unnumbered.

Locationkm[1]miDestinationsNotes
Canas7.274.52 PR-52 north (Autopista Luis A. Ferré) – San JuanSouthern terminus of PR-9; trumpet interchange
7.04.3 PR-2 – Ponce, MayagüezEl Tuque sector; partial cloverleaf interchange
6.44.0Avenida Maruca – PoncePonce Towne Center; at-grade intersection
5.43.4 PR-500 – PonceTemporary northern terminus of southern segment; incomplete diamond interchange. Mainline stub exist for a future extension. Avenida Las Américas vicinity.
Temporary gap in PR-9
Canas Urbano–Canas line5.0–
3.8		3.1–
2.4		 PR-132 – Ponce, PeñuelasJardines del Caribe vicinity; diamond interchange
Temporary gap in PR-9
Magueyes Urbano2.1–
2.0		1.3–
1.2		 PR-123 – Ponce, AdjuntasTemporary southern terminus of northern segment; at-grade intersection
Magueyes Urbano–Magueyes line0.40.25Calle 7 – PonceEl Madrigal vicinity; diamond interchange
Portugués0.00.0 PR-10 (Carretera Salvador "Chiry" Vassallo Ruiz) – Ponce, AdjuntasNorthern terminus of PR-9; trumpet interchange
1.000 mi = 1.609 km; 1.000 km = 0.621 mi
  •       Unopened

Construction

The building of PR-9 is taking place in several phases. Phase I, already completed, consisted of the stretch of the road from PR-10 in Barrio Portugués to PR-123 in Barrio Magueyes.

Phase II consists of the stretch between PR-123 at Barrio Magueyes to PR-132 in Barrio Canas. As of 18 August 2010, the Phase II stretch was in the planning phase according to Puerto Rico's Commissioner of Transportation and Public Works, Rubén A. Hernández Gregorat. Phase II is expected to cost $28 million.[22] The length of this section is 2.61 kilometers. It includes three bridges: one will cross Río Canas, a second bridge will be an overpass for PR-123, and a third bridge will cross the access ramp to PR-123.[23]

Phase III of PR-9 will run from PR-132 in Canas to PR-163 (with a connection to Avenida Las Américas) in barrio Canas Urbano. It is expected to cost some $36 million. This section will have a length of 1.62 kilometers, and will also require three bridges: One will be an overpass to Avenida Las Américas at PR-163, another will be crossing Rio Pastillo, and the third will cross PR-132.

The fourth and last portion of this project, Phase IV will consist of a stretch between PR-163 (intersection with PR-500) and PR-2 via improvements to the existing 4-lane Avenida Baramaya roadway.[22]

Completion of this last phase will make it possible to circumvent city traffic altogether by providing a loop around the city of Ponce for motorists wishing access to areas north and northeast of the city from PR-2 in the El Tuque sector of barrio Canas.[22] It will, for example, be possible to travel from Mayaguez to Adjuntas without the need to travel on the eastern segment of PR-10 near Mercedita Airport, which is currently (July 2017) the case.

See also

Notes
  1. PR-123 was signed as "PR-10" in this area until the opening of a new road that adopted the PR-10 designation and which, like PR-123, runs from Ponce to Arecibo.

Footnotes
  1. The ACT also calls them "sections".
  2. a November 2019 news report stated phase III consisted of 1.62 kilometers of roadway. See Jason Rodríguez Grafal, Confirma otro insólito atraso en el Anillo de Circunvalación Norte, La Perla del Sur (13-19 November 2019), year 37, issue 1876, p. 3. 13 November 2019. The apparent inconsistency may be that the 2.6 kms refers to both, phases 2 and 3. This phase II, then, would be 2.6kms - 1.62kms, or 0.98km

References
  1. Inauguran conector con la PR-10 del sur. Sandra Caquías Cruz. El Nuevo Dia. Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. 14 October 2000. Accessed 15 February 2018
  2. Puerto Rico Route PR-9 circling Ponce renamed after Churumba
  3. Abre de forma parcial puente de la PR-2. Carmen Cila Rodríguez. La Perla del Sur. Ponce Puerto Rico. Year 30. Issue 1506. Page 4. (Name in printed edition: "Tras dos anos de obras: Abre de formal parcial nuevo tramo de la PR-2.") 10 October 2012. Retrieved 10 October 2012.
  4. ¿Una avenida o zona de combate? Primera Hora. 19 June 2014. Retrieved 24 June 2014.
  5. Anillo de Circunvalacion. Office of Territorial Ordering. Autonomous Municipality of Ponce. Retrieved 5 August 2011.
  6. Avanza Construccion del Anillo de Circunvalacion. Archived 14 August 2014 at the Wayback Machine Amado Vega Velazquez. Periodico El Señorial. Government of the Municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Año 2014. Edicion Especial. May 2014. page 3. Retrieved 13 August 2014.
  7. Inauguran conector con la PR-10 del sur. 14 October 2000. El Nuevo Dia. Sandra Caquías Cruz. Accessed 15 February 2011.
  8. Confirma otro insólito atraso en el Anillo de Circunvalación Norte: De concretarse el más reciente pronóstico, solo un tramo de la PR-9 en Ponce concluiría con seis años de atraso y un costo total que supera los $56.5 millones, casi $20 millones más de lo programado. Jason Rodríguez Grafal. La Perla del Sur. Issue date: 13-19 November 2019. Year 37. Issue 1876. Pages 3-5. Article date: 13 November 2019. Accessed 29 November 2019.
  9. Part Two: The Transportation Planning Regions - Context and Cost-Feasible Plans: South and Southeast. "Puerto Rico's Five Transportation Planning Regions (TPRS): 2040 Long Range Transportation Plans." Puerto Rico Department of Transportation. December 2013. Page 7-52. Accessed 19 September 2018. Archived on 2018-September-20 at 08:39:01 by the WayBack Machine.
  10. https://www.periodicolaperla.com/edicion-1646-del-17-al-23-junio-2015/ ¿Contratiempo of mala planificación? Para el 2016 Tramo de la PR-9: SAunwqure mas del 70 porciento del proyecto ya ha sido edificado, requerirá otros 16 meses reubicar dos torres de alto voltaje.] Year 33. Issue 1646. 17-23 June 2015. page 10. Accessed 30 November 2019.
  11. Confirma otro insólito atraso en el Anillo de Circunvalación Norte. Jason Rodríguez Grafal. La Perla del Sur. Issue date: 13-19 November 2019. Year 37. Issue 1876. Pages 3-5. Article date: 13 November 2019. Accessed 29 November 2019.
  12. Confirma otro insólito atraso en el Anillo de Circunvalación Norte. Jason Rodríguez Grafal. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 13-19 November 2019. Year 37. Issue 1876. pp. 3-5. 13 November 2019. Accessed 29 November 2019.
  13. Por demolición del peaje: Tardará dos semanas la reapertura de la PR-52 en Ponce: La Autoridad de Carreteras y Transportación trabaja en la construcción de un carril central temporero en el tramo de la PR-2 en el sector Las Cucharas de Ponce, que ha sido impactado por frecuentes derrumbes. Jason Rodríguez Grafal. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 15 January 2020. Accessed 4 February 2020.
  14. Sin fecha para repavimentar la PR-10. Jason Rodríguez Grafal. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. Year 32. Issue 1629. Pages 6-7. 18 February 2015. Retrieved 18 February 2015. Weblink updated 12 May 2018.
  15. Una vez más: Se aleja la fecha de apertura para el Anillo de Circunvalación. Jason Rodríguez Grafal. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. Year 35. Issue 1754. Pages 6-7. 12 July 2017. Retrieved 12 July 2017.
  16. Interminable el anillo de circunvalación. Eduardo L. Questell Rodríguez. Es Noticia. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 24 May 2019. (Printed edition: Sin Fecha la Apertura del Anillo de Circumvalación. Eduardo L. Questell Rodríguez. Es Noticia. 24 May to 6 June 2019. Year 4. Issue 97. p. 5.) Accessed 28 May 2019.
  17. Confirma otro insólito atraso en el Anillo de Circunvalación Norte: De concretarse el más reciente pronóstico, solo un tramo de la PR-9 en Ponce concluiría con seis años de atraso y un costo total que supera los $56.5 millones, casi $20 millones más de lo programado. Jason Rodríguez Grafal. La Perla del Sur. Issue date: 13-19 November 2019. Year 37. Issue 1876. Pages 3-5. Article date: 13 November 2019. Accessed 29 November 2019.
  18. Por demolición del peaje: Tardará dos semanas la reapertura de la PR-52 en Ponce: La Autoridad de Carreteras y Transportación trabaja en la construcción de un carril central temporero en el tramo de la PR-2 en el sector Las Cucharas de Ponce, que ha sido impactado por frecuentes derrumbes. Jason Rodríguez Grafal. La Perla del Sur. Ponce, Puerto Rico. 15 January 2020. Accessed 4 February 2020.
  19. Availability of Environmental Document and Opportunity to request a Public Hearing for the Construction of PR-9 from Baramaya Avenue to PR-123, Municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico Department of Transportation and Public Works, Puerto Rico Highway and Transportation Authority. Public Notice.
  20. Availability of Environmental Document and Opportunity to request a Public Hearing for the Construction of PR-9 from Baramaya Avenue to PR-123, Municipality of Ponce, Puerto Rico. Puerto Rico Department of Transportation and Public Works, Puerto Rico Highway and Transportation Authority. Public Notice.
  21. General Purpose Population Data, Census 2000. Unidad de Sistemas de Información Geográfica, Área de Tecnología de Información Gubernamental, Oficina de Gerencia y Presupuesto. Gobierno de Puerto Rico. Archived 12 August 2010 at the Wayback Machine Retrieved February 20, 2010.
  22. Inauguran e inician importantes obras de infraestructura vial en Ponce. Comunicado de Prensa (Press Release). 18 August 2010. Ponce, Puerto Rico. Government of Puerto Rico. Departamento de Transportación y Obras Publicas.
  23. Puerto Rico Department of Transportation. 10-SEPTIEMBRE-2010: AVISO PUBLICO.
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