Chile Route 5


Chile Highway 5 or Route 5 known locally as Ruta 5 is Chile's longest route,. It is part of the Pan-American Highway.

Stretch

It runs from the Peruvian border connecting with Peru Highway 1 north of Arica to Puerto Montt where it connects by ferry to the island of Chiloé. It passes through Santiago, the country's capital, where it is called Autopista Central.

Highway grade

From the north border with Peru to north of Caldera, Ruta 5 is a two lane paved road with a speed limit of. Between Caldera and Puerto Montt, the road was upgraded to a 4 lane freeway with as speed limit, 20% faster than Chile's common maximum speed limit. The highway ends in Puerto Montt, but it divides in two different routes, one crossing the Chacao Channel that separates Chiloé from the continent and another route named Carretera Austral that was opened in the 1980s. The southern part of Ruta 5 crosses long extensions of native woods and important cities.

Freeway grade

South of La Serena to Puerto Montt it is a 4 lane divided highway and toll road for the most part. It is Chile's longest freeway. The speed limit on the freeway is and as of May 2007 drivers must travel with their lights on all day long.

Tunnels

Four tunnels are part of Route 5, namely El Melón, La Calavera I, La Calavera II and Angostura, which have lengths of, ,, respectively. Each one of them carries two lanes of traffic, except El Melón Tunnel, the only that carries a lane in each direction.