Maracaibo Coast Highway
| Maracaibo Coast Highway | |
| Highway shield for a Fuerza Province portion of the Highway. | |
| Route Information | |
| Length: | 1,829 miles (2,943 km) |
| First Completed: | May 10, 1969 |
| Reconstruction Finished: | December 8, 1980 |
| Major Junctions | |
| TBA | |
| Location | |
| Provinces: Lanza Province, Fuerza Province, Joya Province, Gancho del Cabo Province | |
| Highway System | |
| Allied Nations Federal Highway System | |
Maracaibo Coast Highway or Route 1, is an east-west controlled-access highway in the Allied Nations that runs from the Pillowlandian border to the capital city of Maracaibo in the Gancho del Cabo province. The route is largely parallel to the northern coast of the Allied Nations, with views of the South Menghe Sea throughout. It is a principle trunk line of the Allied Nations Federal Highway System, and is the second longest continuous highway in the country. Route 1 is known for its lack of speed regulation, and has been referenced in several pop songs as a road to take for vacation destinations.
History
Planning
The Maracaibo Coast Highway was first planned as part of Phase I of the Allied Nations Federal Highway System, and was proposed as a solution to the myriad of local roads that dated from before the Pan-Septentrion War. Some of these roads even included colonial-era routes, and many of them were considered redundancies and in general disrepair. The new route planned would bypass much of these paths in favor of a main thoroughfare hugging the northern coastline of the country, connecting each of the major coastal cities, and following a major rail line throughout. These improvements were part of the Gualterio Administration's efforts to modernize and westernize the country, and streamline its infrastructure.
Construction
The Highway's initial configuration was two asphalt paved lanes in each direction, mostly at-grade, with a wide, grass median between. When Phase III began in 1977, the Allied Nations government realized that, although the configuration was optimal for current traffic patterns, a newer version would be even better for incorporating heavy shipping.
On Independence Day, 1980, the current version of the Coast Highway was completed. This iteration is paved in more permanent concrete, and in most sections, two more dual lane ways were added on the former grass median. These four interior lanes are intended for trucks and heavy vehicles, while the original highway was limited to non-commercial traffic.
Standards
Speed limits
Until 1980, the speed limit for Route 1 was 60 miles per hour. At the opening of the new highway, however, speed limits for areas not within the vicinity of major urban development were completely lifted. As of 2018, there are no speed limits for 1,600 miles (2,600 km) miles of the highway.
Tolls
The highway, like all routes on the Federal Highway System, is completely free to use for non-commercial traffic. Trucks and heavy traffic must pay a toll to enter and exit the highway to generate revenue for maintenance. The toll is passive, and cumulative depending on how far one travels on the route.
Route Description
TBA
