Guadalajara Highway Finally Open!

Well the new highway from Guadalajara to Puerto Vallarta finally officially opened  at the end of 2024, ending thirteen years of construction and the anticipation of many in the region. The 310 km new roadway is a big improvement over what was previously a sometimes dangerous, and definitely longer, trip from Guadalajara to Puerto Vallarta. After many, many delays, it is finally a reality.

The new toll highway shortens the driving time from Guadalajara to Vallarta to just 2.5-3 hours. Previously it could take up to five hours. There will be six toll booths and it the total cost can be as high as $1,300 pesos.

Although the highway ends in Vallarta, it provides faster and easier access to many other coastal areas in Nayarit along the way, such as Chamela, Guayabitos, San Pancho, Sayulita and Bucerias. 

The newest extension is 33km long and stretches from Bucerias to Vallarta. This section will help relieve some of the traffic congestion that can build up on this stretch of highway that passes by Nuevo Vallarta and the airport. It will also provide another bridge over the Ameca, which is very much needed as currently the two existing bridges are the only way to access Nayarit from Vallarta.

Although this is certainly positive news, there is concern that the ease of now traveling to Vallarta from the state capital will only make internal traffic in Vallarta worse. There will be the need for further planning and infrastructure projects in order to absorb this most-certain new demand. But this project, finally coming to fruition, is a big step in the right direction.