Length 4.8 km | ||
Puerto Rico Highway 163, also known as Avenida Las Américas, is a major thoroughfare in Ponce, Puerto Rico. The highway has both of its termini as well as all of its length entirely within the Ponce city limits. It runs west to east. As of November 12, 2010, the segment of this road from its intersection in the west with PR-2R (a.k.a., Carretera Pampanos) to its intersection in the east with PR-12, officially became the Bulevar Luis A. Ferré.
Contents
Map of PR-163, Ponce, Puerto Rico
Route description
The highway is a divided four-lane road that starts at its intersection (in western Ponce) with Calle Baramaya (PR-9), itself a major thoroughfare that connects to the Autopista Luis A Ferre/PR-52 (Luis A. Ferre Expressway) and to PR-10. PR-163 runs westerly, intersecting with PR-2R (Ramal PR-2, or Business Branch PR-2) near Estadio Paquito Montaner and Auditorio Pachin Vicens. Continuing east it passes Pontifical Catholic University of Puerto Rico, and Museo de Arte de Ponce, before intersecting with Hostos Avenue/old PR-10. Other points of interest on Avenida Las Américas are the Ponce Governmental Center, Hospital Dr. Pila, and the Island's police barracks for the Ponce Region. After passing these and crossing Rio Portugues the highway intersects with PR-12, and then heads north to connect with Puerto Rico Highway 14 (PR-14). Additional businesses along its way are Cafe Rico and Centro del Sur Mall, both at PR-163's intersection with PR-133, also called Calle Comercio.
Road characteristics
Highway 163 is about three miles long and ends (as PR-163/Avenida Las Américas) at its intersection with Boulevard Miguel Pou/PR-1. Although the highway is signed PR-163 up to this intersection with PR-1, physically the road continues as a non-divided four-lane road called Avenida Emilio Fagot to connect with PR-14 and PR-10 for access to points northeast and north, respectively. The less transited western section of the road experiences an hourly traffic flow upwards of 2400 vehicles.