The new highway 307 overpass that runs through Playa del Carmen has finally opened after more than 16 months of construction. With a smooth ride and speed limit of 80 km/h (which is roughly equivalent to 50 mph), the new overpass has been designed to make traveling through Playa del Carmen real estate to and from Cancun, as well as into the Tulum area, much easier and faster than it was previously.

In addition, the new overpass will keep major traffic from clogging up the side roads and slower lanes of the town proper, which will greatly improve travel around Playa for locals and visitors alike. The new overpass is part of ongoing efforts by the Mexican government to improve infrastructure throughout the country, with more than 300 million USD allocated in 2011 alone to projects designed to spur economic growth and aid tourism in Mexico.

The view of Playa del Carmen from the new overpass is also quite attention grabbing and offers travelers a real sense of how big the onetime small fishing village has become. The project was overseen by the SCT, which is the Mexican government’s office of Communications and Transportation, and a difference in traffic flow was noticeable immediately after the new bridge was opened for through traffic.

The new overpass stretches almost four kilometers from the north of town to the southern part of the Avenue Constituyentes, before rising into a second bridge that takes drivers out to Avenue Juarez. The project was completed through a collaborative effort by three separate construction companies and is expected to provide a boost to tourism and real estate throughout the region.