A New Highway Connection Will Cover 81.459 Kilometers, Including Tunnels and Bridges, With an Investment of More Than 22 Billion Pesos
For those traveling from Nuevo Laredo to different parts of the country, the Interserrana Highway is advancing as a project that will reduce travel times through a direct connection between the Potosí Altiplano and the Monterrey metropolitan area, according to information provided about the project. The work includes different sections, and operations are scheduled to begin in 2027.
The new highway is being planned as an alternative for those who currently use Highway 57 and have to deal with vehicle congestion in areas such as Saltillo–Los Chorros and the entrances to Monterrey. Its construction seeks to modify the route toward the border, particularly for truck drivers and families who frequently make these trips.
An 81-Kilometer Highway Will Connect the Altiplano With Nuevo León
The Interserrana Highway will be 81.459 kilometers long and will be an A4-type four-lane highway, connecting Matehuala, in San Luis Potosí, with Galeana, Rayones, Iturbide, Linares, and Montemorelos, in Nuevo León.
The project involves an investment of more than 22 billion pesos and will directly connect the Potosí Altiplano with Monterrey’s ring road, allowing vehicles heading toward Nuevo Laredo to avoid part of the urban routes that currently form part of this journey.
In addition, the new connection includes infrastructure such as tunnels and bridges, particularly in mountainous areas, where construction is being carried out in stages.
The Route Will Avoid Saltillo–Los Chorros and Monterrey Access Roads
One of the main changes for drivers will be the possibility of avoiding points that currently cause major delays along the route, including the Saltillo–Los Chorros section and the traditional access roads to Monterrey.
The information provided indicates that these areas experience heavy vehicle flows, freight traffic, and sections with a high incidence of accidents, conditions that can extend travel times toward Nuevo Laredo. The new highway therefore proposes a more direct route.
In this regard, the benefit would not be limited to those departing from Matehuala, since the time savings would also reach travelers arriving from other parts of the country who use this corridor to complete their journey to the border.
Up to an Hour and a Half Less Travel Time to Nuevo Laredo
The estimates provided indicate reductions of between one hour and one and a half hours, depending on the point of origin.
From Matehuala to Nuevo Laredo, the journey currently takes between 5 hours 45 minutes and 6 hours, while with the new highway, the estimated travel time would be between 4 hours 15 minutes and 4 hours 45 minutes, representing an approximate saving of 1 to 1.5 hours.
For those departing from San Luis Potosí, the current journey takes approximately 8 hours 10 minutes, while the estimated travel time with the new connection would be between 6 hours 40 minutes and 7 hours 10 minutes, again representing a reduction of 1 to 1.5 hours.
The benefit would also extend to the Bajío region, including Querétaro and Mexico City, because the time savings would be concentrated mainly in the final section of the journey toward the border by avoiding Saltillo–Los Chorros and the entrances to Monterrey.
Tunnels, Bridges, and Sections Still to Be Completed
The progress of the project was explained by the governor of Nuevo León, who stated that the Interserrana Highway was conceived from the beginning as a project that would extend beyond his administration.
During a live broadcast on his Instagram account, held in connection with the closing of the Fan Fest, the governor announced that he would conduct an inspection tour of the southern part of the state to supervise various projects and the progress of the highway.
On November 26, 2023, the Government of Nuevo León announced the first step toward beginning work on Section One, corresponding to 15 kilometers on the grounds of the El 57 ranch, in the municipality of Montemorelos, with an investment of 2.5 billion pesos.
Section Two begins in the mountainous area and covers 32 kilometers, in addition to tunnels and bridges. To complete the connection, Section Three, corresponding to the mountainous sector, still needs to be put out to tender. It will cover 15 kilometers and include nine structures, among them five river bridges and four vehicular overpasses, under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) scheme.
Regarding the completion date, the governor acknowledged that the highway will not be completed during his administration, which ends in 2027, because it was planned as a project extending across multiple administrations.
“Obviously, I will not finish the highway, but it was always envisioned as a project extending across administrations. We started it with great responsibility, and very soon I hope that highway will be operating for Mexico, San Luis Potosí, Tamaulipas, and Nuevo León,” the governor said.
A Corridor Designed for Transportation and Trade
In addition to changing travel times, the Interserrana Highway seeks to strengthen commercial connectivity toward Nuevo Laredo, described in the information provided as Mexico’s most important land port.
The new route will provide shorter and more direct journeys for companies and truck drivers, while reduced travel times could also decrease waiting periods and facilitate tourism and commercial mobility toward the border.
In this way, the connection between San Luis Potosí, Nuevo León, and Tamaulipas provides a new alternative for journeys destined for Nuevo Laredo, with an estimated reduction of up to one and a half hours on certain routes and infrastructure whose completion is planned beyond the current state administration.
Source: elmanana
