CUOTA: Patzquero to Morelia

There is a new toll road between Patzquero and Morelia that appears to have just opened. As we approached the traffic seemed confused over whether to go quota or libre. We chose the quota just because we wanted to see where it went. Nice, spankin' new highway that bypasses much of the congestion of the old road. Cost is 44 pesos. Gets a little confusing as it enters Morelia and dumps you into the ring road several km west of the old one. Probably a good route if you are trying to bypass Morelia for points north as it will cut down on much of the ring road mess. Not so good if your target is Centro or Costco areas - you will have to take a congested roundabout and then travel several km back.

There is a new toll road between Patzquero and Morelia that appears to have just opened. As we approached the traffic seemed confused over whether to go quota or libre. We chose the quota just because we wanted to see where it went. Nice, spankin' new highway that bypasses much of the congestion of the old road. Cost is 44 pesos. Gets a little confusing as it enters Morelia and dumps you into the ring road several km west of the old one. Probably a good route if you are trying to bypass Morelia for points north as it will cut down on much of the ring road mess. Not so good if your target is Centro or Costco areas - you will have to take a congested roundabout and then travel several km back.

This is timely information for us, as we'll be leaving Zihua on 8 April, travelling first to Guanajuato, then points north. We want to avoid Morelia traffic as much as possible, even to the point of taking 37 north from Uruapan, up to 15D via Paracho, Purepero, etc.

On 16 March, Tally Ho, a friend of this Board, e-mailed me the following, (reproduced here hopefully with his blessing):

" The Morelia toll road is only open half way, and dumps you in town, and we hit right at morning rush hour. Long.
We scoped things out for you, and here is our suggestion: After Patzcuaro, the next thing you will see is a construction zone. Yes, the lines are topes. There is a temporary sign marked Morelia Libre and a funky ramp off to the right. Take that. Follow that road right through town-the Central Historic District, and you'll cross 15 D eventually, but for Guanajuato, you'll just continue.
The north ring road is OK for a bus/moho, but with a car, just blast through the center of town. Our neighbors this year, and another last year did it accidentally in their moho's and wish it was legal to do in a large vehicle.
The Morelia toll road will be open in November, and will be fabulous. It will leave 15 D at Copandaro and completely miss Morelia-a real time saver."

So, it sounds like you may both be referring to different Morelia toll roads, or, more likely, the signage is changing on a daily basis. Since we're not on any firm timetable, I think we'll just go with the flow and hope we get through the greater Morelia area without getting too hassled.

Thanks to you and Tally Ho for the advice.

We were confused as well. there was a cuota and libre road signs that exited to the right. and one to the left, we took the one to the left ,new road

Greetings from cool California.
We are talking the same road. We still think that for now, until the toll road is complete, supposedly by the time we return in November, the best route for a car is to just drive right through Centro. The semi-ring road doesn't save time, and there are places, (one if you don't take the toll road, two if you do) where it is very easy to miss your turn, and the retorno's aren't close.
Safe travels.