Guatemala
2.3 Guatemala Road Network
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Overview

There are four main gates out of Guatemala City towards Puerto Barrios (Atlantic Port Access), Puerto Quetzal (Pacific Port Access), El Salvador Highway, which provides access to Honduran border check points and the east of Guatemala, and the CA-1 which heads west of Guatemala City to Mexico, making connections to major Guatemalan cities like Chimaltenango, Quetzaltenango, Sololá and Huehuetenango. 

Among the main highways are the Pan-American Highway that connects Guatemala with Mexico and El Salvador and the Interoceanic Highway that connects Puerto Barrios and Puerto Quetzal, and the Costanera that runs parallel to the Pacific coast. 

According to shared data, it has a total of 17,440 km of roads, of these only 7,420.39 are paved and 9,440.29 are unpaved roads or known as dirt roads. The country Road Network has a growth ratio of 216 kilometres per year. https://caminos.gob.gt/mapas-de-la-red-vial.html 

Primary highways are double-lined and paved. Most are in rather poor conditions with the exception of the highway to Puerto Quetzal which is a double-lined new highway with one toll booth.  Secondary roads in the coastal areas are paved/dirt highways in relatively good condition. Heavy trailer (sugar cane transport) can be expected in the sugar cane harvesting seasons anywhere between October and March, which causes traffic and leaves highways littered with debris. The rest of the secondary roads connecting small villages and towns to larger centres are not paved and their conditions vary depending on the season. Between May and November, heavy rains can make most dirt roads restricted to 4 wheel drive vehicles. Large trucks have very little access during this time. 

In the highlands of Guatemala, roads are terraced and unpaved through the mountain areas. Rains and fog can make these routes difficult to access. The highway which extends into the Peten is a flat and paved highway. Heavy tractor trailer traffic can be expected on the Atlantic highway through to Puerto Barrios making the route dangerous, particularly in the mountain areas closer to Guatemala City. 

Road transport is the dominant mode in the domestic and intra-regional trade (approximately 82% in imports by weight and 76% in exports), as well as for the internal segments of extra-regional trade. This sector has profound weaknesses: overloading is a recurring problem and there is no efficient control, which in turn time affects the poor condition of the roads already mentioned. There is few or no control at origin, the 14 fixed scales that exist in Puerto Quetzal are not certified by the authorities of traffic control (there are scales but they are private) and the calibration is not consistent inside and outside the port. 

Since there is practice of overloading containers,  leaving the port it is necessary to control them, but up to now there were only 2 operational mobile scales (within port premises);  20 scales along the main axes are in planning. 

The vehicle fleet (heavy transport truck units) has an average age of 18 years. Vehicles used for transport to the domestic market are in poor condition and there is a lack of refrigerated units. Informality is also high. 

However it is important to outline the expansion of the CA-9 North road network in Guatemala. This corridor crosses the country from the Pacific to the Atlantic and is particularly relevant for the transport of textiles –which reported exports for 1,030 million USD in 2020–; fruits (850 million USD); mineral fuels and oils ($508 million); paper and cardboard (330 million USD); plastics and rubbers (326 million USD); allowing the exit of products to Asia and the West Coast of the United States through Puerto Quetzal and to Europe and the East Coast of the United States through Puerto Barrios and Puerto Santo Tomás de Castilla. 

The CA-9 serves as a connector for the productive nodes of Guatemala with its ports; with the Pacific Corridor and for products coming from El Salvador or destined for the ports of Honduras. 

Conceptually the Logistics Corridors (Corredores Logísticos Consolidados)  are not only road axes; they are axes that integrate the main logistics nodes of the country providing cargo services and ensuring the traceability of merchandise and vehicles in order to support the customs monitoring of merchandise in transit (fiscal corridors),the logistics organization, the security of the goods, among others. 

According to the PENLOG 2015-2025,  in terms of road design, these corridors must have road standards  adapted to cargo movements (specifications adapted to the weight and dimensions of large vehicles, area rest and parking, truck centers, weigh stations, speed control), with a level of endowment and sophistication appropriate to the volumes, loads, users, etc. 

For more information on government contact details, please see the following link: 4.1 Government Contact List.

Distance Matrix

Official government maps web page : https://caminos.gob.gt/mapas-de-la-red-vial.html 

Distances from Capital City to Major Towns (km) *


Capital

Cobán, A.V.

Chimal-tenango

Puerto Barrios

Pto Sn Jose

Quetzal-tenango

Retal-huleu

Zacapa

Capital


213

50.1

293

109

198

191

149

Cobán, A.V.

213


265

336

323

223

405

192

Chimal-tenango

50.1

265


343

99.9

148

182

199

Puerto Barrios 

293

336

343


403

492

485

169

Pto Sn Jose 

109

323

99.9

403


195

167

258

Quetzal-tenango 

198

223

148

492

195


51.8

347

Retal-huleu

191

405

182

485

167

51.8


341

Zacapa

149

192

199

169

258

347

341


(*) https://caminos.gob.gt/kilometrajes.html 


Travel Time from Capital City to Major Towns (hours) *


Capital

Cobán, A.V.

Chimal-tenango

Puerto Barrios

PtoSn Jose

Quetzal-tenango

Retal-huleu

Zacapa

Capital


4:12

1:19

5:03

1:58

3:45

3:39

2:58

Cobán, A.V.

4:12


5:38

5:29

6:07

6:36

8:01

3:22

Chimal-tenango

1:19

5:38


6:20

1:46

2:23

3:28

4:06

Puerto Barrios 

5:03

5:29

6:20


7:19

9:06

9:02

2:41

Pto Sn Jose 

1:58

6:07

1:46

7:19


3.49

2:53

5:14

Quetzal-tenango 

3:45

6:36

2:23

9:06

3:49


1:24

6:46

Retal-huleu

3:3

8:01

3:28

9:02

2:53

1:24


6:53

Zacapa

2:58

3:22

4:06

2:41

5:14

6:46

6:53


*Data extracted from Google Maps on November 28, 2016 at 12:00 hours.

Road Security

Driving in Guatemala requires one's full attention, and safe drivers must drive defensively to avoid dangerous situations. Traffic rules are not always observed; many drivers do not use their turn signals to alert other drivers, speed limits, lane markings and stop signs are often ignored. Passing blindly on winding and/or steep mountain roads, poorly designed surfaces, and unmarked hazards, including frequent landslides and precarious temporary highway repairs, present additional risks to motorists. 

Secondary and tertiary roads built on steep mountains (sometimes without adequate technical support) are totally insecure and prone to landslides, because its talus has not been protected or there is lack of drainages. 

Public transportation is unreliable and often unsafe.  The   “Transmetro” is the most secure public transport in the city. It has adequate terminals and security.    

Modern inter-city buses with modern terminals offer some security from highway violence, but armed attacks are increasing, showing that all buses are vulnerable. Although city streets are adequately illuminated, secondary and rural roads have little or no illumination. Driving outside of urban areas at night is dangerous and not recommended. The Inter-American Highway (CA-1) and the road from Guatemala City to the Caribbean coast (CA-9) are especially dangerous due to heavy traffic, including large trucks and trailers. 

Security is a sensible issue and UNDSS should be consulted for the latest security updates. 

There are no roadside assistance clubs, however a roadside assistance force (PROVIAL) https://provial.gob.gt/  patrols most of the major highways in the country.  PROVIAL vehicles are equipped with basic tools and first aid supplies, and their services are free.  Police patrol the major roadways and may assist travellers, but the patrols are sporadic and may be suspended due to budget restraints. For roadside assistance, travellers may call the police by dialling 120 or the fire department by dialling directly to 122 (Volunteers) or 123 (Municipal) and they will react as soon as possible.  Cellular telephone service covers most areas frequented by tourists. 

Weighbridges and Axle Load Limits

Official government weighbridges inventory map https://caminos.gob.gt/ubicacion-puentes.html 

The road network has an estimated 200 weighbridges around the country, some are made of concrete and some others made of steel.   Some bridges have been re-build and some others are in repair due to the natural vulnerability of the country. 

Guatemala is party to the United Nations convention on the road traffic (Geneva, 1949) and the Central American Agreement on Road Traffic (1958). 

The axle load limits in Guatemala are listed in below table. The vehicle nomenclature is as follows: 

C = Truck / Number of axles // T = Trailer Tractor // S = Semi Trailer // R = Trailer (Example: vehicle type: T3S2R4) 

Axle Load Limits

GUATEMALA

Truck with 2 Axles

15,500 Kg

Truck with 3 Axles

22,000 Kg

Truck with 4 Axles

25,000 Kg

Semi-trailer with 3 Axles

23,000 Kg

Semi-trailer with 4 Axles

30,000 Kg

Semi-trailer with 5 Axles

37,000 Kg

Semi-trailer with 6 Axles

41,000 Kg

Truck & Drawbar Trailer with 4 Axles

Information not available

Truck & Drawbar Trailer with 5 Axles

32,000 to 38,000 Kg

Truck & Drawbar Trailer with 6 Axles

40,000 to 45,000 Kg

Truck & Drawbar Trailer with 7 Axles

47,000 to 52,000 Kg

Road Class and Surface Conditions

For official detailed department map please see: https://caminos.gob.gt/mapas-de-la-red-vial.html



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