Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - Nayarit's delegate for Mexico's Communications and Transportations Secretary, Federico Días Avalos, recently announced that 30 of the 190 km toll road, which will run from Jala, Nayarit to Puerto Vallarta have been completed.

While the final route has not been made public, the new highway is expected to open up routes that will provide easier access to the entire Banderas Bay region. There will be exits near Compostela, Las Varas, Guayabitos and Bucerías, thus facilitating access to these destinations and neighboring towns.

The new highway is also expected to bring to fruition the long-anticipated shortcut between Puerto Vallarta and the state capital. Currently one must drive the scenic route via Las Palmas-Mascota and Guadalajara, which takes a little more than 3 hours.

The new toll road could shorten the trip to two and a half hours by cutting out sections of curves and widening sections of the road to four lanes, which would make the road trip easier for motorists.

Government officials are reluctant to provide further details, particularly as they relate to the actual project completion date. But it is anticipated that, once completed, the new highway will attract a larger numbers of tourists from several inland states, as well as Mexico City, to the greater Banderas Bay region.