Boulevard Fransisco Medina Ascencio
Puerta Vallarta’s main road is called the Boulevard Fransisco Medina Ascencio. It runs from the airport through the Hotel Zone and ends before downtown in the south. Northbound and southbound lanes are divided by a strip of grass with palm trees. On either side run four lanes of traffic, which are subdivided again into express and collector, like Highway 401 here in Toronto.
Like a Canadian highway, but…
The 401 uses this layout to keep cars in the express lane moving quickly without turbulence caused by the onramps and offramps in the collector lanes. Principle 1 – Segmentation
In Puerta Vallarta, however, these collector lanes have a dual purpose. Not only do they permit drivers to enter from the right, or exit to the right, they are there to permit drivers turn left, too. Principle 13 – The Other Way Round
Unlike the 401, Boulevard Fransisco Medina Ascencio has stop lights along its length. To make a left turn, drivers need to exit the express lane to enter the collector. This is done by little lay-bys on the right side of the express that connect to the collector.
Once in the collector, the driver continues in the left lane until the next light. Then the drivers get an advance green arrow that lets them safely make the left turn around the four stopped lanes of traffic. They are free to turn to the left or make a u-turn, as clearly shown in this Youtube video.
