Avenida de los Insurgentes

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Avenida de los Insurgentes

Junction of Insurgentes and Paseo de la Reforma
Former name(s)	Vía del Centenario
Length	28.8 km (17.9 mi)
Location	Mexico City, Mexico
Nearest metro station	See Metro
North end	Fed. 85D (Mexico-Pachuca Highway)
Major junctions	Monumento a la Raza Paseo de la Reforma Glorieta de los Insurgentes Anillo Periférico
South end	Fed. 95 (Mexico-Cuernavaca Highway)

Avenida de los Insurgentes (English: Avenue of the Insurgents), sometimes known simply as Insurgentes, is the longest avenue in Mexico City, with a length of 28.8 km (17.9 mi) on a north-south axis across the city. Insurgentes has its origins in what was during the early 20th century known as the Via del Centenario which ran from city centre to the southern suburbs.^[1]

Many decades later, after it was paved and widened, its name was changed to Avenida de los Insurgentes, apparently happening during the administration of President Miguel Alemán, when the area attracted wealthy urbanites for sophisticated, modern housing. The avenue was named after the Insurgent Army (Ejército de los Insurgentes) that fought for Mexican independence from Spain during the Mexican War of Independence from 1810 to 1821.

The avenue's southern terminus is located near Volcán Ajusco in the intersection with the Viaducto Tlalpan avenue, where it becomes Highway 95 in direction to Cuernavaca. The northern terminus is located in the intersection with Avenida Acueducto where it becomes the highway to Pachuca.

The avenue crosses five of the 16 boroughs of the city. Many of Mexico City's emblematic colonias (such as Condesa, Roma, Del Valle, Napoles, San Ángel, Pedregal) are either crossed or on the side of Insurgentes. The Mexico City Metrobús bus rapid transit system, opened in 2005, runs along the avenue, from Tlalpan to Indios Verdes metro station.