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Gribblenación México; Jalisco State Highway 155 to Jocotepec


Jalisco State Highway 155 is a short route which exits in the town of Jocotepec along the western shore of Lake Chapala.  As currently configured the state highway corridor exists on a 1.2-kilometer segment of Vicente Guerrero Presidente in Jocotepec from Federal Highway 15 to Niños Heroes Sur.  The primary purpose of this state highway is to funnel traffic through downtown Jocotepec to the mercado at Malecón de Jocotepec.




A drive on Jalisco State Highway 155

Prior to the establishment of the current Jalisco State Highway numbering system Carretera Jocotepec-Chapala was part of Jalisco State Highway 35.  Jalisco State Highway 35 can be seen extending from Federal Highway 15 in Jocotepec to Guadalajara via Chapala on the 1956 Shell Highway map of Mexico.  


The current Jalisco State Highway numbering system was established in recent decades and is grouped into clusters.  Jalisco State Highway 112 can be seen connecting Jocotepec and Chapala on the 2006 Mapa de carreteras y caminos en el estado de Jalisco.  It isn't clear but it appears Jalisco State Highway 112 at the time was not continuous through Jocotepec west to Federal Highway 15.  What is now Jalisco State Highway 155 along Vicente Guerrero Presidente may have once been part of Jalisco State Highway 112.


As currently configured Jalisco State Highway 155 exists on a 1.2-kilometer segment of Vicente Guerrero Presidente in Jocotepec from Federal Highway 15 to Niños Heroes Sur.  


Eastbound Jalisco State Highway 155 is accessible from Federal Highway 15 at the western outskirts of Jocotepec.  Jalisco State Highway 155 contains no reassurance shields or signage on-route. 


Jalisco State Highway 155 begins on a four-lane segment of Vicente Guerrero Presidente.  The highway passes through the Jocotepec town entrance arch and Monumento al Señor del Huaje.




Jalisco State Highway 155 terminates as Vicente Guerrero Presidente narrows to two lanes approaching Niños Heroes Sur.


Near the eastern end of Vicente Guerrero Presidente signage directs traffic through downtown Jocotepec to the mercado at Malecón de Jocotepec.


Below is the view of Malecón de Jocotepec at the western shore Lake Chapala.  Jocotepec and the western shore of Lake Chapala is thought to have been inhabited first by tribes as early as 100 BC.  The Nahua Tribe began permanent settlement of the western lakeshore beginning approximately 1361.  Upon the arrival of the Spanish the land on the western lakeshore a was given as a grant in 1520.  The town of Jocotepec was founded in 1529.


Lake Chapala is the largest freshwater lake in Mexico by surface area at approximately 420 square miles.  Lake Chapala is shallow at a maximum depth of 34 feet which leads to seasonal variations of the lake level.  Lake Chapala is located approximately 5,000 feet above sea level and is fed by; Rio Lerma, Rio Zula, Rio Huaracha, and Rio Duero.  Lake Chapala is the headwaters of Rio Grande de Santiago. 





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