Mexico’s official online database of all the country’s roads and highways has just been updated. As of May 2015, Mexico has a total of 322,859 kilometers of roads and highways.
They are all shown on a map accessed via this web-page. [Link to http://www.imt.mx/micrositios/sistemas-de-informacion-geoespacial/servicios-tecnologicos/red-nacional-de-caminos/ver-datos.html no longer working.]
Mexico’s major highways, 2009 (Fig 17-3 of Geo-Mexico, the geography and dynamics of modern Mexico). All rights reserved.
Here is a summary of some of the more useful statistics found in the database:
- 158,180 km of paved highways, including
- 48,685 km of federal highways,
- 92,590 km of state highways
- 9412 km of toll highways
- 36,139 km of urban roads
- 118,812 km of rural (unpaved) roads.
The highway network connects 25,844 places, and has links to 39 ferry routes. It also includes 847 toll stations, 3476 bridges and 178 tunnels.
According to the report, Mexico currently has 6480 gas stations. However, this number is expected to increase rapidly in the next few years as competitors enters a market over which PEMEX previously held a monopoly, prior to recent energy reform laws.
If you are planning to drive across Mexico, then the online system at http://ttr.sct.gob.mx/mappir/ will give you routes, distances and estimated times and costs.
Further reading:
- The geography of road transport in Mexico
- Driving in Mexico: is it safe relative to other countries?
- Highway improvement revolutionized the economy of Chilapa, Guerrero
- El Camino Real or Royal Road, the spine of the colonial road system in New Spain (Mexico)
- New Durango-Mazatlán highway officially open
- Mexico Pan-American Highway, route of one of the toughest road races in the world
- Mexico: Different traffic whistles mean different things
2 Responses to “Mexico’s road network”
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.
Without information about highway robberies the mappir information is incomplete. In Monterrey anyone thinking about driving to Texas begins scanning twitter the day before!
Yes, good point – the map(s) certainly tell you nothing about security issues and you are smart to check for updates via Twitter or informed locals before making any long drive.