Interstate PR1

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.

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  ‐ San Juan. PR

North at

PR 18 meets PR 23 1.5 kilometers south of PR 22/PRI-2 09/30/24

East at

PR 22/PRI-2 east at Salida 2 A for PR 18/PRI-1 south. 09/29/24

West at

PR 22 spans Martín Peña Channel ahead of PR 18/PRI-1 south. 09/28/24

South End  ‐ Ponce, PR

South at

PR 52/PRI-1 one kilometer east of PR 2/PRI-2. 09/28/24

East at

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

West at

PR 2 west meets PR 2 just north of PR 52/PRI-1 in Ponce. 09/28/24