Exits on the new Guadalajara - Puerto Vallarta Macrolibramiento?

You would have to go to the Tequila off ramp and down a ways to pull a u turn and go back on the 15D.

Gosh. With all the exchange of info I am confused. Can some one make a summary so that dummies can follow the directions

CanuckBob wrote:You would have to go to the Tequila off ramp and down a ways to pull a u turn and go back on the 15D.

You mean there isn't any exit eastbound off of the ML at the termination onto 15D? So you are required to go westbound toward Tequila to a retorno in  order to go east.
That sucks, but maybe they will do an eastbound exit later.
Just like there isn't any westbound entrada off the Chapala-GDL hiway, only eastbound.
Ni modo.....poco a poco.

lakeside7 wrote:Gosh. With all the exchange of info I am confused. Can some one make a summary so that dummies can follow the directions

I know you can get off and on in any direction on Lopez Mateos Sur/54D (been there, done it), but seems to be limited on the Chapala/GDL interchange and the Arenal/Tequila termination point and nothing at the crucero with 70 at Tala.
Retornos are the workaround.

slainte39 wrote:

CanuckBob wrote:You would have to go to the Tequila off ramp and down a ways to pull a u turn and go back on the 15D.

You mean there isn't any exit eastbound off of the ML at the termination onto 15D? So you are required to go westbound toward Tequila to a retorno in  order to go east.
That sucks, but maybe they will do an eastbound exit later.
Just like there isn't any westbound entrada off the Chapala-GDL hiway, only eastbound.
Ni modo.....poco a poco.

Correct. There is no eastbound exit where it connects with the 15D. It merges onto the westbound lane and there are cement barriers all the way. The first chance to turn around is Tequila. Also be sure to fuel up as once you get on the new Marco libriemento there is no fuel station until well past Tequila.

As of today and physically making a trip using this road.

Coming from Zapotlanejo, the ML begins where it intersects with 80D and 90 and terminates at the intersection with 15D between Arenal and Tequila, about 120K total length.
Over that entire length of the road there are only 3 exits......
1...15D, the GDL/CD de MEX cuota, a little SW of Zapotlanejo
2...23, the GDL/Chapala Hiway
3...54/Av Lopez Mateos  Sur (you can enter or exit in all four directions at this location)

The east bound exit at Arenal is blocked off, as Bob said, only westbound salida.
Most definitely nothing at 70, just north of Tala.
There are several interchanges started where preliminary work is in progress, but no where near completion.
There aren't any gasolineras, banos, businesses of any kind (convenience stores, restaurants, etc. over the entire route), so bring food, beverage , gasoline, or anything you might want along the way,  no bathroom stops, if you are using it to bypass GDL.

The highway is road construction at it's best.
The tolls from Zapotlanejo to Arenal......339 pesos. Chapala hiway to Lopez Mateos....65 pesos.

Passed through Tala yesterday on the way to the Guachimontones in Teuchitclan so I was able to observe the entrance/exit ramps to the Guadalajara Macrolibramiento. As stated earlier, they are current not open but construction is well underway and they should be open soon.

It's a significant rise in elevation from 70 up to the ML (at Tala), so that makes it a little more challenging.

So just take it until it ends if ring to Mazatlan,? It dumps out at Tepic or get off at the Tequila exit for Mazatlan? Anyone know? Thanks

For Mazatlan you take it to the 15D, then stay on the 15D until you are almost in Tepic. You will see signs for Mazatlan exit off the 15D. Way beyond Tequila.......

Bob, wouldn't you take the ML to Arenal, where you connect with 15D all the way NW to Mazatlan.  At least, that's the way I see it.

That's what I said "you take it (ML) to the 15D and then the 15D to Tepic where you will see the Mazatlan exits".

Thank you for the Mazatlan information.

Hey slainte, I'm going to Manzanillo for a few days and plan on taking the new ML to Mateos Lopez then head south. Do you know if the off ramp to Colima is well marked? I would hate to miss it with the next stop being Tequila......jaja. I can't remember when I passed it last time.

CanuckBob wrote:Hey slainte, I'm going to Manzanillo for a few days and plan on taking the new ML to Mateos Lopez then head south. Do you know if the off ramp to Colima is well marked? I would hate to miss it with the next stop being Tequila......jaja. I can't remember when I passed it last time.

I've only gotten off going northbound, but I believe it is as the signs for GDL were prominent (the big green ones).  My recollection is that you pass over LM and make a cloverleaf immediately to go southbound.  Slow down when you approach the GDL exit and proceed cautiously to see that there isn't a problem in case you have to reverse back to the northbound exit and find the first retorno southbound.  Shouldn't be a problem because it's not that busy (like the closer in Periferico or Lazaro Cardenas). There's a toll caseta a short ways further where they might let you make a turnaround without paying to get to the southbound exit by travelling east on the ML.

The other day I was about to ask the same question, more or less. If going to Manzanillo (or elsewhere on that coast, and leaving from "Walmart" as a reference), I was wondering if it'd be easier/more efficient than going through Joco and El Molino and doing the hook-back south to head to Colima, beach, etc.

I guess it all boils down to exactly where the Lopez Mateos exchange is, and how easy it is to go in the NOT Guadalajara direction.

"Cincy" posted a map earlier in this thread which gave me a general idea, but graphics aren't real world driving. Part of the fun!

From Chapala or Ajijic, I believe the ML will be quicker than the Joco route. The interchange is right around the place you would get on the 54D from Joco. No topes or single lane.

Here is a Google map view showing both routes.

Good map, CB, interesting. . .somebody should do both and time them both.

While I get that the ML will be smoother, more scenic, and less traffic, the old route has familiarity going for it. One must also remember they still have to go up to Ixlahuacan before going west on the ML and the route does take you a little more north before you can hook up with 54 and start your journey south.

The one thing for sure is you will not have the 30 or so topes through the Joco route. Or the weekend traffic through Ajijic to deal with. . .

The ML route is longer but your average speed will be over a 100kmh. The Joco route is maybe 80kmh average plus the wear and tear on your brakes and suspension. I'm going to take the ML route to Manzanillo on Wednesday so will report back. Going the Joco route I do Manzanillo in 3 1/2 hours (3 hours if I don't stop for a coffee and OXXO hotdog).

I put in both routes in my Garmin from my house in Ajijic to the 54D interchange.

Joco route - 54.1 KM estimated to be 55minutes
ML route - 72.9 KM estimated to be 57 minutes

The caveat is that Garmin does not account for the topes going the Joco route and assumes you can do the posted speed limit at all times. I'm thinking the ML route may only save 5 - 10 minutes but I hate those topes so will do it anyways. It's worth the extra pesos in tolls to me.

Good. Interesting that it's only a few minutes difference by Garmin. . .but as pointed out previously real time driving may radically be different than Garmin or Google - especially in Mexico. I do hear you about the topes though. . .

Please time the real time driving leg from say, WM to 54 specifically.

Have a good trip!

Aye Aye Captain.......

jajaja Or not.

Trailrunner wrote: One must also remember they still have to go up to Ixlahuacan before going west on the ML

The interchange with the ML is quite a bit further than Ixtlahuacan, the pueblo.  In fact, you have to go past the La Barca exit off the Chapala/GDL carretera to the first retorno and head back to the west bound entrada onto the ML

CanuckBob wrote:I put in both routes in my Garmin from my house in Ajijic to the 54D interchange.

Joco route - 54.1 KM estimated to be 55minutes
ML route - 72.9 KM estimated to be 57 minutes

The caveat is that Garmin does not account for the topes going the Joco route and assumes you can do the posted speed limit at all times. I'm thinking the ML route may only save 5 - 10 minutes but I hate those topes so will do it anyways. It's worth the extra pesos in tolls to me.

I agree, much smoother way to go, and only 65 pesos to avoid all those topes and rough spots on the Joco bypass. 4 lane all the way.