Mexican Federal Highway
Encyclopedia
Mexican Federal Highways, are roads maintained and built by the federal government
of Mexico
, through the Secretariat of Communications and Transportation
(in Spanish
: Secretaría de Comunicaciones y Transportes, SCT).
The Federal Highways in Mexico can be classified as high speed roads with restricted access and low speed roads with open access. Some Federal Highways charge a toll (cuota).
s or Supercarreteras, are limited access expressways with predetermined points-of-access interchange
s. Access to these roads is generally prohibited for pedestrian
s and animal
traction vehicles, as fence
s are located at a side of the road for most of the length. Autopista
s are a divided highway with 4 or more lanes. Supercarreteras are always two-lane highways and are most commonly found in mountain areas. The maximum speed limit
is 110 km/h (68.4 mph) for car
s and 95 km/h (59 mph) for bus
es and truck
s. In some cases, the maximum speed can be 120 km/h (74.6 mph).
s or Carreteras, conform the majority of the road network. Autopista
s are a divided highway with 4 or more lanes. Most of these Autopista
s were single carriageway roads converted into dual carriageway by building an adjacent road body next to the existing one. Carreteras are free and in most cases two-lane highways that cover almost all of Mexico
. These roads have interchanges at major roads, but most intersections are at-grade. The maximum speed limit
is 100 km/h (62.1 mph) for car
s and 95 km/h (59 mph) for bus
es and truck
s.
Federal Highway 14 from Uruapan, MICH to Morelia, MICH located in the mid-west of the country
and Federal Highway M-40 the new Mexico City orbital road.
Federal government
The federal government is the common government of a federation. The structure of federal governments varies from institution to institution. Based on a broad definition of a basic federal political system, there are two or more levels of government that exist within an established territory and...
of Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, through the Secretariat of Communications and Transportation
Secretariat of Communications and Transportation (Mexico)
The Secretariat of Communications and Transportation of Mexico is a federal entity that regulates commercial road traffic and broadcasting...
(in Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
: Secretaría de Comunicaciones y Transportes, SCT).
The Federal Highways in Mexico can be classified as high speed roads with restricted access and low speed roads with open access. Some Federal Highways charge a toll (cuota).
High speed with restricted access roads
Restricted access roads, known as AutopistaAutopista
Autopista refers to a controlled-access highway in various Spanish-speaking countries*Autopistas and autovías of Spain*Autopistas of Mexico*Autopistas of Puerto Rico*Autopistas of Chile...
s or Supercarreteras, are limited access expressways with predetermined points-of-access interchange
Interchange (road)
In the field of road transport, an interchange is a road junction that typically uses grade separation, and one or more ramps, to permit traffic on at least one highway to pass through the junction without directly crossing any other traffic stream. It differs from a standard intersection, at which...
s. Access to these roads is generally prohibited for pedestrian
Pedestrian
A pedestrian is a person traveling on foot, whether walking or running. In some communities, those traveling using roller skates or skateboards are also considered to be pedestrians. In modern times, the term mostly refers to someone walking on a road or footpath, but this was not the case...
s and animal
Animal
Animals are a major group of multicellular, eukaryotic organisms of the kingdom Animalia or Metazoa. Their body plan eventually becomes fixed as they develop, although some undergo a process of metamorphosis later on in their life. Most animals are motile, meaning they can move spontaneously and...
traction vehicles, as fence
Fence
A fence is a freestanding structure designed to restrict or prevent movement across a boundary. It is generally distinguished from a wall by the lightness of its construction: a wall is usually restricted to such barriers made from solid brick or concrete, blocking vision as well as passage .Fences...
s are located at a side of the road for most of the length. Autopista
Autopista
Autopista refers to a controlled-access highway in various Spanish-speaking countries*Autopistas and autovías of Spain*Autopistas of Mexico*Autopistas of Puerto Rico*Autopistas of Chile...
s are a divided highway with 4 or more lanes. Supercarreteras are always two-lane highways and are most commonly found in mountain areas. The maximum speed limit
Speed limit
Road speed limits are used in most countries to regulate the speed of road vehicles. Speed limits may define maximum , minimum or no speed limit and are normally indicated using a traffic sign...
is 110 km/h (68.4 mph) for car
Čar
Čar is a village in the municipality of Bujanovac, Serbia. According to the 2002 census, the town has a population of 296 people.-References:...
s and 95 km/h (59 mph) for bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
es and truck
Truck
A truck or lorry is a motor vehicle designed to transport cargo. Trucks vary greatly in size, power, and configuration, with the smallest being mechanically similar to an automobile...
s. In some cases, the maximum speed can be 120 km/h (74.6 mph).
Low speed with open access roads
Low speed/open access roads, known as AutopistaAutopista
Autopista refers to a controlled-access highway in various Spanish-speaking countries*Autopistas and autovías of Spain*Autopistas of Mexico*Autopistas of Puerto Rico*Autopistas of Chile...
s or Carreteras, conform the majority of the road network. Autopista
Autopista
Autopista refers to a controlled-access highway in various Spanish-speaking countries*Autopistas and autovías of Spain*Autopistas of Mexico*Autopistas of Puerto Rico*Autopistas of Chile...
s are a divided highway with 4 or more lanes. Most of these Autopista
Autopista
Autopista refers to a controlled-access highway in various Spanish-speaking countries*Autopistas and autovías of Spain*Autopistas of Mexico*Autopistas of Puerto Rico*Autopistas of Chile...
s were single carriageway roads converted into dual carriageway by building an adjacent road body next to the existing one. Carreteras are free and in most cases two-lane highways that cover almost all of Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
. These roads have interchanges at major roads, but most intersections are at-grade. The maximum speed limit
Speed limit
Road speed limits are used in most countries to regulate the speed of road vehicles. Speed limits may define maximum , minimum or no speed limit and are normally indicated using a traffic sign...
is 100 km/h (62.1 mph) for car
Čar
Čar is a village in the municipality of Bujanovac, Serbia. According to the 2002 census, the town has a population of 296 people.-References:...
s and 95 km/h (59 mph) for bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
es and truck
Truck
A truck or lorry is a motor vehicle designed to transport cargo. Trucks vary greatly in size, power, and configuration, with the smallest being mechanically similar to an automobile...
s.
Numbering system
North-south highways are assigned odd numbers, east-west highway are identified by even numbers. The start of the numbering schema is located on the northwest of the country.Exceptions to the numbering system
There are two exceptions to the numbering schema:Federal Highway 14 from Uruapan, MICH to Morelia, MICH located in the mid-west of the country
and Federal Highway M-40 the new Mexico City orbital road.