Puerto Rico Highway 163
Encyclopedia
Puerto Rico Highway 163, also known as Avenida Las Americas, is a major thoroughfare in Ponce, Puerto Rico
. The highway has both of its termini as well as all of its length entirely within the Ponce city limits. It runs west to east. As of November 12, 2010, the road will be called Luis A. Ferré Boulevard.
and Auditorio Pachin Vicens
. Continuing east it passes Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico
, and Museo de Arte de Ponce, before intersecting with Hostos Avenue/old PR-10. Other points of interest on Avenida Las Americas are the Ponce Governmental Center, Hospital Dr. Pila
, and the Island's police barracks for the Ponce Region. After passing these and crossing Rio Portugues the highway intersects with PR-12, and then heads north to connect with Puerto Rico Highway 14
(PR-14). Additional businesses along its way are Cafe Rico
and Centro del Sur Mall, both at PR-163's intersection with PR-133, also called Calle Comercio.
. Although the highway is signed PR-163 up to this intersection with PR-1, physically the road continues as a non-divided four-lane road called Avenida Emilio Fagot
to connect with PR-14 and PR-10 for access to points northeast and north, respectively. The less transited western section of the road experiences an hourly traffic flow upwards of 2400 vehicles.
Ponce, Puerto Rico
Ponce is both a city and a municipality in the southern part of Puerto Rico. The city is the seat of the municipal government.The city of Ponce, the fourth most populated in Puerto Rico, and the most populated outside of the San Juan metropolitan area, is named for Juan Ponce de León y Loayza, the...
. The highway has both of its termini as well as all of its length entirely within the Ponce city limits. It runs west to east. As of November 12, 2010, the road will be called Luis A. Ferré Boulevard.
Route Description
The highway is a divided four-lane road that starts at its intersection (in western Ponce) with Calle Baramaya (PR-9), itself a major thoroughfare that connects to the Autopista Luis A Ferre/PR-52 (Luis A. Ferre Expressway) and to PR-10. PR-163 runs westerly, intersecting with PR-2R (Ramal PR-2, or Business Branch PR-2) near Estadio Paquito MontanerFrancisco Montaner Stadium
The Estadio Francisco Montaner is a multi-use stadium in Ponce, Puerto Rico. It is home to the Leones de Ponce team of the Puerto Rico Baseball League and FC Leones of the Puerto Rico Soccer League . The stadium has a capacity of 16,000 seats...
and Auditorio Pachin Vicens
Juan Pachín Vicéns Auditorium
The Auditorio Juan Pachín Vicéns , formerly, Coliseo Juan Pachín Vicéns, is a sports venue in the city of Ponce, Puerto Rico...
. Continuing east it passes Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico
Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico
The Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico is a Roman Catholic university located in Ponce, Puerto Rico. It provides courses in the areas of education, business administration, arts and human studies and science, leading to Bachelor's, Master's and Doctorate Degrees. Its campus is also home...
, and Museo de Arte de Ponce, before intersecting with Hostos Avenue/old PR-10. Other points of interest on Avenida Las Americas are the Ponce Governmental Center, Hospital Dr. Pila
Manuel De la Pila Iglesias
Dr. Manuel de la Pila Iglesias was a Puerto Rican physician practicing in Ponce, Puerto Rico. He was a physician who specialized in a half-dozen medical specialities. He founded a medical clinic in Ponce that grew into a large medical center. Dr. Manuel de la Pila Iglesias is considered "one of...
, and the Island's police barracks for the Ponce Region. After passing these and crossing Rio Portugues the highway intersects with PR-12, and then heads north to connect with Puerto Rico Highway 14
Puerto Rico Highway 14
Puerto Rico Highway 14 is a main highway connecting Cayey, Puerto Rico to Ponce, Puerto Rico. The road uses the same path as the historic old Carretera Central.-Road description:...
(PR-14). Additional businesses along its way are Cafe Rico
Café Rico
Café Rico is a Puerto Rican corporation that manufactures coffee branded by the same name. The company's headquarters are located in Barrio San Antón in the city of Ponce, Puerto Rico, on Las Americas Avenue/Route 163 and Calle Comercio/Route 133...
and Centro del Sur Mall, both at PR-163's intersection with PR-133, also called Calle Comercio.
Road characteristics
Highway 163 is about three miles long and then ends (as PR-163/Avenida Las Americas) at its intersection with Boulevard Miguel Pou/PR-1Puerto Rico Highway 1
Puerto Rico Highway 1 connects the city of Ponce to San Juan. Leaving Ponce, the road follows somewhat parallel along the southern coast of the island and, at Salinas, it turns north to cut through the Cordillera Central in its approach to San Juan....
. Although the highway is signed PR-163 up to this intersection with PR-1, physically the road continues as a non-divided four-lane road called Avenida Emilio Fagot
Emilio Fagot
Emilio Fagot was a Puerto Rican politician and Mayor of Ponce, Puerto Rico from 1929 to 1933.Emilio Fagot is best known for his welcoming and hosting of US President Herbert Hoover in 1933, during the time of the Great Depression. He has the distinction of being one of three of Ponce mayors to...
to connect with PR-14 and PR-10 for access to points northeast and north, respectively. The less transited western section of the road experiences an hourly traffic flow upwards of 2400 vehicles.
See also
- Puerto Rico Highway 1Puerto Rico Highway 1Puerto Rico Highway 1 connects the city of Ponce to San Juan. Leaving Ponce, the road follows somewhat parallel along the southern coast of the island and, at Salinas, it turns north to cut through the Cordillera Central in its approach to San Juan....
- Puerto Rico Highway 10Puerto Rico Highway 10Puerto Rico Highway 10 is a major highway in Puerto Rico. It connects the cities of Ponce in the south and Arecibo to the north; it is also the shortest route between the two cities....
- Puerto Rico Highway 52
- Historia de las Carreteras de Puerto Rico. Retrieved July 30, 2009.
- Roads in Porto Rico. By Manuel Victor Domenech (Former Commissioner of the Interior, in The Overland Monthly. Vol 73, No, 4; April, 1919. Page 321. Retrieved September 23, 2009.