Carretera Central (Puerto Rico)

The Carretera Central is a north–south central highway in Puerto Rico.

Route description

The highway runs from the north coast city of San Juan to the south coast city of Ponce via Caguas, Cayey, Aibonito, Coamo, and Juana Diaz. The highway corridor is now signed as Puerto Rico Highway 14 from Ponce to Cayey, and as Puerto Rico Highway 1 from Cayey to San Juan.[1]

History

A former Casilla de Caminero on PR-14 (now Ave. Tito Castro) in Ponce, Puerto Rico

Functional by 1886, it was the first highway to cross Puerto Rico's east–west mountain range, the Cordillera Central.[2]

In 1886, it was a 134-kilometer (83 mi) route with 13 permanent bridges and 33 "casillas de camineros" (housing for road maintenance technicians).[2]

The Arenas Bridge, constructed in 1894 to bring the Carretera Central across the Rio de la Plata, was the longest bridge constructed in Puerto Rico under Spanish government.[3]

In 1898, during the Spanish–American War, American forces moved from south to north over the Carretara Central. One bridge was demolished by the Spanish to delay the American advance.[4]

See also

References

  1. ↑ National Register of Historic Places Multiple Property Documentation Form: Historic Bridges of Puerto Rico, c. 1840-1950. Luis F. Pumarada O'Neill. U.S. National Park Service. p. 7. 31 July 1994.
  2. 1 2 Pumarada-O'Neill, Luis F. (July 31, 1994). "National Register of Historic Places Multiple Property Documentation: Historic Bridges of Puerto Rico MPS" (PDF). National Park Service.
  3. ↑ "Historic Places in Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands: A Travel Itinerary: Arenas Bridge". National Park Service.
  4. ↑ Luis F. Pumarada O'Neill (July 31, 1994), National Register of Historic Places Multiple Property Documentation: Historic Bridges of Puerto Rico, c. 1840-1950 PDF (32 KB), National Park Service External link in |title= (help)

Further reading

External links

Media related to Carretera Central (Puerto Rico) at Wikimedia Commons

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