BajaNomad

Hy 5 paved?

taoswheat - 3-10-2018 at 10:55 AM

How far is Hy 5 paved south of San Felipe?

mtnpop - 3-10-2018 at 11:00 AM

about 150 kilometers..
believe still 23 miles of unpaved to get to Mex. 1

several threads discussing this if you search mex. 5

Howard - 3-10-2018 at 11:00 AM

Absolutely, but unfortunately only in my dreams. Not close to being completed.

What I meant to say is the 23 mile portion is not completed south of Gonzaga Bay.

[Edited on 3-10-2018 by Howard]

David K - 3-10-2018 at 11:49 AM

The 23 miles are graded, maintained, used heavily by nearly all types of vehicles including semi-tractor-trucks.

To many, it is not as bad as the pot-holed paved highways of Baja.

taoswheat - 3-10-2018 at 11:51 AM

Thanks for the info. I can live with 23 miles of graded.

David K - 3-10-2018 at 12:27 PM

Quote: Originally posted by taoswheat  
Thanks for the info. I can live with 23 miles of graded.

It may be less as they are actively working on that section and some miles are paved but not always open for traffic to use.
Photos from last summer (August)... Photos from north to south:

Looking back north to Gonzaga Bay:



New highway and current road routes criss-cross often:



The new Coco's Corner bypass route heading south from Las Arrastras:



Just south of Coco's Corner:



Where the Coco's bypass section and current road come close together, south of Coco's Corner:



Cutting through the mountain:













In the Laguna Chapala valley:



TMW - 3-10-2018 at 01:00 PM

The second picture from the top that shows the bridge is where the turn off to the Turquesa mine is. On the far left side of the bridge you can see a road going down. It goes into the wash and about 50-100 yards is the mine road up and out of the wash.

AKgringo - 3-10-2018 at 01:07 PM

I drove it on Monday. I was last on it late December of 2016, and I feel it was in better condition then than it is right now! That includes the old pavement between San Felipe and Puertecitos.

There is only so much a blade can do once the fine material on the detours washes away. I have never aired down for that section before, but I think I might on they way north.

The steeper sections are the troublesome areas, and there are a couple of interesting transitions on and off of the new road bed.



[Edited on 3-10-2018 by AKgringo]

bill erhardt - 3-10-2018 at 01:15 PM

Quote: Originally posted by taoswheat  
Thanks for the info. I can live with 23 miles of graded.


Don't be taken in by the term "graded". Much of it is rough and rocky with washboard to keep you on your toes and test your suspension.

David K - 3-10-2018 at 01:41 PM

Quote: Originally posted by bill erhardt  
Quote: Originally posted by taoswheat  
Thanks for the info. I can live with 23 miles of graded.


Don't be taken in by the term "graded". Much of it is rough and rocky with washboard to keep you on your toes and test your suspension.


Agree... it will be no fun with a motorhome or travel trailer of any size. However, neither are pot-hole sections of Hwy. 1.

rts551 - 3-11-2018 at 09:06 AM

Quote: Originally posted by AKgringo  
I drove it on Monday. I was last on it late December of 2016, and I feel it was in better condition then than it is right now! That includes the old pavement between San Felipe and Puertecitos.

There is only so much a blade can do once the fine material on the detours washes away. I have never aired down for that section before, but I think I might on they way north.

The steeper sections are the troublesome areas, and there are a couple of interesting transitions on and off of the new road bed.



[Edited on 3-10-2018 by AKgringo]

The transitions are tough for a reason. They do not want people driving on the new road beds. They have just been redone and much of it is or was ready for paving. Twice now have watched the work crews chasing people down who have bypassed the barriers to take the nice smooth road bed.