The project that began four years ago to connect Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta has finally picked up steam after environmental and budget concerns.
The highway is expected to be completed in December 2017 with an inaugurate in early 2018, according to the Secretariat of Communications and Transportation, Bernardo Gutierrez Navarro.
The Secretary of Tourism of Jalisco, Enrique Ramos Flores mentioned that there have been several delays in the process caused by budget cuts and complications in preserving natural areas.
Flores said recently a national cut of $12 million pesos in the expenditure budget was done, and noted the complexity of the work and passing through the mountainous area of the Sierra de Vallejo, listed as part of the jaguar reserve area.
The new highway is expected to cut travel time from Guadalajara to Bucerías by 50%, currently a 5 hour trip that will be reduced to 2.5 – 3 hours.
The delegate from the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (SEMARNAT), Roberto Medrano said that this is the first highway in Mexico that has used such tough regulations to preserve the wildlife along the route.