Mexican Federal Highway


Federal Highways, are a series of highways that connect with roads from foreign countries; link two or more states of the Federation; and are wholly or mostly built by the Federation with federal funds or through federal grants by individuals, states, or municipalities. Locally known as federal highway corridors, built and maintained by the federal government of Mexico via the Secretariat of Communications and Transportation. Federal Highways in Mexico can be classified into high-speed roads with restricted access and low-speed roads with non-restricted access; not all corridors are completely improved.

High speed with restricted-access roads

Restricted-access roads, known as Autopistas or Supercarreteras, are limited-access expressways with controlled points of access interchanges. Access to these roads is generally prohibited for pedestrians and animal-drawn vehicles, as fences are located at the side of the road for most of the length. Autopistas are highways with four or more defined lanes. Supercarreteras are always two-lane highways and are most commonly found in mountainous areas. The maximum speed limit is normally for cars and for buses and trucks. In some cases, the maximum speed can be.

Low speed with non-restricted-access roads

Low-speed/non-restricted-access roads, known as Autopistas or s, comprise the majority of the road corridors. Autopistas are divided highways with four or more lanes. Most of these autopistas are single-carriageway roads converted into dual carriageway by building an adjacent road body next to the existing one. Carretera are free, and in most cases, two-lane highways that connect almost all of Mexico. These roads have interchanges at major roads, but most intersections are at grade. The maximum speed limit is for cars and for buses and trucks.

Numbering system

North–south highways are assigned odd numbers, while east-west highways are identified by even numbers. The start of the numbering system is located in the northwest of the country.

Exceptions to the numbering system

There are two exceptions to the numbering system:
  1. Federal Highway 14 and Federal Highway 14D from Uruapan, Michoacán, to Morelia, Michoacán, located in the midwest of the country.
  2. Several roads with letter designations: the Autopista Arco Norte, Fed. I-20D, Fed. S30 and, Fed. GUA 10D.