Puerto Rico Interstate 1

Puerto Rico Interstate 1

Overview

An unsigned designation, Interstate PR 1 runs along the entire length of Primary Route 52 (Autopista Luis A. Ferré) between Ponce and San Juan, and Primary Route 18 (express Las Americas) from Primary Route 1 to Primary Route 22 in San Juan. PR 52 is part of the toll roads managed by the Metropistas consortium.

PR 52 generally replaced PR 1 as the main route east from Ponce to Juana Diaz, Santa Isabel and into Salinas. Both routes traverse Cordillera Central, the central mountain range, northeast from Salinas to Cayey. The toll road becomes more urban in the city of Caguas, with reversible Dynamic Toll Lanes (DTL) in place from Salida (Exit) 15 at PR 1/30 northward into San Juan.

The DTL lanes extend northward from PR 52 onto PR 18 and continue to PR 22 (Autopista José de Diego). I-PR1 ends at PR 22, which is also I-PR2 and I-PR3.

Route Information

  • North End – San Juan

  • South End – Ponce

  • Mileage – 71.08

  • Cities – Caguas, Cayey, Ponce, Salinas, San Juan

  • Junctions – PRI-2 PRI-3

Source: December 31, 2021 Interstate Route Log and Finders List

Puerto Rico Interstate System Map

History

Puerto Rico Interstate 1 was established as part of the National System of Interstate and Defense Highways on May 27, 1983 in accordance with the provisions of Section 139(c) of Title 23, U.S.C. The full approval was contingent on placing the PR 52 toll road onto the Federal-aid primary system. The designation enabled the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico to utilize Federal-aid funds available under 23 U.S.C. 104(b)(1) and 104(b)(5)(B) for resurfacing, rehabilitation, restoration and reconstruction of Interstate routes (Barnhart, 1983).

PRI-1 was eventually approved by the American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) on October 1, 1983. The designation followed PR 1 east from PR 2 in Ponce to PR 52, and then all of PR 52 northeast to San Juan. The northernmost section of PR 52 overlays PR 18 between PR 1 and PR 2 in the capital city.

The toll road along PR 52 was extended west around Ponce from PR 1 to PR 2/PRI-2 and opened to traffic on July 26, 1996. Effective December 17, 1993, this section of PR 52 was conditionally to become part of PRI-1 by the Federal Highway Administration under 23 U.S.C. 139(c) upon completion. FHWA subsequently gave final approval for its inclusion into the Interstate System in April 1997. A formal request for extending I-PR1 was received by AASHTO on January 29, 1998 and granted on April 15, 1998.

North End I-PRI2 PRI-3 Primary Route 22 – San Juan

PRI-1 North at Primary Route 22 I-PRI2 PRI-3

PR 18 meets PR 23 1.5 kilometers south of PR 22/PRI-2

09/30/24

The north end of Puerto Rico Interstate 1

09/30/24

Primary Route 22 I-PRI2 East at PRI-1

PR 22/PRI-2 east at Salida 2 A for PR 18/PRI-1 south

09/29/24

PR 22/PRI-2 east at the north end of PR 18/PRI-1

09/29/24

Primary Route 22 PRI-3 West at PRI-1 I-PRI2

PR 22 spans Martín Peña Channel ahead of PR 18/PRI-1 south

09/28/24

Three lanes partition for both PR 22/PRI-2 west and PR 18/PRI-1 south

09/29/24

South End I-PRI2 Primary Route 2 – Ponce

Primary Route 52 PRI-1 South at Primary Route 2 I-PRI2 Primary Route 9

PR 52/PRI-1 one kilometer east of PR 2/PRI-2

09/28/24

PRI-1 concludes south at PR 2 and PRI-2 west in Ponce

09/28/24

PR 9 stems north from PR 52 to connect PRI-1 south with PR 2 east

09/28/24

Primary Route 2 I-PRI2 East at Primary Route 52 PRI-1

PR 52/PRI-1 bypasses central Ponce to the south from PR 2/PRI-2

09/28/24

Two lanes separate from PR 2/PRI-2 east at Salida 224 for PR 52/PRI-1 north

PR 52 is a toll road doubling as PRI-1 northeast from Ponce to San Juan. 09/28/24

Primary Route 2 West at Primary Route 9 Primary Route 52 PRI-1

PR 2 west meets PR 2 just north of PR 52/PRI-1 in Ponce

09/28/24

The south end of PR 9 connects PR 2 west with PR 52/PRI-1 north

09/29/24

PR 9 south concludes with ramps for PR 2 east and PR 52/PRI-1 north

09/29/24

References

Barnhart, Ray A. (May 27, 1983). Letter from Federal Highway Administration to Puerto Rico Department of Transportation Secretary. Retrieved from https://grmservices.grmims.com/vsearch/portal/public/na4/aashto/default

Page updated October 27, 2024